Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. For many college students, not having access to enough food is a harsh reality that negatively affects their academic performance as well as physical and mental well-being.
In 2016, Maureen Berner, a UNC School of Government professor, conducted a study revealing that almost 25 percent of the students on UNC’s campus were food insecure. The most common contributors to food insecurity are financial restraints, time constraints, and inadequate transportation to and from grocery stores with healthy food options.
As it is often deemed an ‘invisible’ issue, there is no way to know or help every individual who faces food insecurity. However, there are a plethora of ways to join the battle against food insecurity and related disparities locally and nationally.
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