Students devoting more of their wallets to the gas pump and grocery store may benefit from food assistance programs such as food pantries, government aid and university emergency funding. Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, a nonprofit, is working to get the word out about the programs available to students.

Laken Ross, AmeriCorps Vista Cooking Matters nutrition coordinator for the group, said the group is focusing on educating students about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also called SNAP or food stamps.

“A lot of college students, I think, don’t realize that they are SNAP-eligible,” she said. “If you’re the person buying your groceries, your own groceries, then you can get SNAP benefits — even if you live with your parents.”

Ross said that in her experience as a student, it can be very overwhelming to deal with so many changes, and that there was a “learning curve” for living on your own and managing food costs.

“College students are just always kind of broke because college is so expensive. There’s a lot of learning involved if people have always grocery shopped for you, and you don’t really know how to do it,” she said.

One of those challenges is reading nutrition labels and finding affordable products, something the Alliance hosts workshops and other outreach programs to teach students about.

Ross said that as prices have increased over the past few years, the Alliance has seen more college food pantries cropping up, and has increased their outreach to them. 

Inflation and the rising cost of college have led to “a lot more of a focus on college students and hunger because it has been overlooked in the past, but it’s really affecting a lot of people,” Ross said.

UCA junior and theater major Crystal Daniels said that the high cost of goods impacts her college career.

“The amount of time I spend worrying about finances can distract me,” Daniels said. “I might daydream about it during class or I might not like getting out of bed to go all together.”

As a student without a car, Daniels said she “can only imagine what students who own a vehicle pay for gas,” and said she is searching for a second job on top of her courses to buy a car.

With money so tight, Daniels said she waits out her textbook purchases.

“I never could fully afford to pay for my education so I always wait until the last minute to buy textbooks. Everything is going up in price and all it does is stress me out,” she said.

The Consumer Price Index, a tool to measure inflation, recorded annual rate of inflation spikes as high as 9.1% in the summer of 2022, a record-high number attributed to the global effects of the coronavirus pandemic. 

In recent months, inflation has cooled. In June the Consumer Price Index hit 3.0% and rose slightly to 3.2% in July. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s goal for inflation is 2%, a standard set in 2012.

Despite economic growth in recent months, students and their families are still feeling the effects of the past two years, and prices remain high. According to MarketWatch, inflation hit rural, Hispanic and Black Americans harder than any other groups, in part due to their on average higher transportation costs.

And with more money going toward the pump, students may not have enough for groceries.

The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance hosts a hotline for SNAP education that aids callers in understanding the program, applying for it and checking eligibility. 

The line operates from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. A Spanish language operator is also available.

The Alliance is hosting its second annual College Hunger Summit later this year for students, campus pantry workers and other interested individuals.

A news release for the event says food insecurity among students affects their education; “Increases in housing prices, transportation costs and health care expenses are particularly hard on first generation college students. Students who deal with hunger often get lower grades and drop out of school altogether …”

The event is scheduled for Oct. 11 at The Centre at University Park in Little Rock. Panels will consist of “SNAP and WIC for students, fundraising and marketing for campus pantries, and addressing student stigma,” according to the release.

To attend, register by Oct. 2 at https://bit.ly/CollegeHungerSummit23.

A $1,000 grant is available for schools that attend with at least three students and one staff member.

Studentsin need of groceries can visit the Bear Essentials Food Pantry on campus, which is free to all members of the campus community. The pantry usually stocks produce, dry goods and some frozen products. A valid campus ID is required.

The pantry is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For further assistance, UCA’s Student Support and Resource Center offers emergency grants, resources and funds through programs such as the Assistance Program for Students with Exceptional Circumstances. 

The center can also connect students to resources within their community outside of campus.

To contact them, email [email protected], call at 501-852-0704 or visit their office in the Student Health Center in room 308. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.