Consider the Gift of Food this Holiday Season to Support RIT Students | December 2024
Food insecurity is a pressing issue on the RIT campus, but RIT’s FoodShare Center is there to make sure no student goes hungry. Sinclaire Ogof is coordinator at the center. She and her team work collaboratively with campus organizations and community members to provide immediate relief and foster long-term solutions.
She says, “Food insecurity, especially on a college campus, can look different for many people. It may be because they are waiting on a loan repayment, they didn’t qualify for a scholarship, or they ran out of dining dollars at the end of the semester. Whatever the circumstance, RIT FoodShare and those who support it, helps.”
When looking at colleges and universities nationwide, Ogof points to a 2023 article from Inside Higher Ed that summarized, “Students experience food insecurity at higher rates than the general population, with estimates putting students between 33 to 51 percent food insecure and all U.S. adults at 9.8 percent.”
RIT’s FoodShare was established 10 years ago with a goal to cut down on food waste and offer safe and nutritious food to the RIT community. According to the latest data, last year there was a 46% increase in unique visits, 628 in 2023 and 916 in 2024. During the same time period the amount of donated food items increased 115%. Ogof says, “These numbers demonstrate that while food insecurity or on-campus food pantries may not be unique to RIT, the culture of collaborative care is a distinguishing trait.”
That “culture of collaborative care” is something Alexandria Collins, Interim Associate Director of Student Success and Engagement in the Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS) takes seriously. She works directly with students and sees the struggle.
Collins says, “MCAS works to support students holistically and food insecurity is a part of all of our conversations.”
Every semester, she organizes a “Sponsor-a-Shelf” food drive for the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, with lists of specific items that are needed.
“It helps students to know that there are departments all around campus that are supporting a basic need, food. I go with students all of the time to utilize the pantry and Bern’s Closet, a clothing closet for professional clothes, both held in the same space. I see the food that a co-worker donated go directly into the hands of someone from the RIT community. “
Collins says, “Students are often on campus daily for class, projects, community building etcetera, and because of this they need to eat. I have worked with students who did poorly on exams or assignments and when digging a little further the topic of food insecurity arose.”
Ogof agrees. “It is well documented that food insecurity is significantly associated with poor mental health and overall well-being. Moreover, research indicates that it can reduce a student’s likelihood of graduating by 42%. Accessible services such as FoodShare, are critical to curving these statistics especially on a campus with the academic rigor of RIT.”
Ogof says the best way to help is exactly what Collins and others across campus are doing. Spread the word. “While the many on-campus pantries report not having enough donations to meet full need, RIT’s community is committed to keeping FoodShare’s shelves stocked. This metric can be attributed to strong support from RIT Dining, RIT Sustainability, student clubs and organizations; departments across campus; and the 184 unique volunteers that actively support FoodShare.”
If you are thinking about the gift of food this holiday season, you can find an up-to-date list of items needed on the FoodShare website, under the donation tab. You can also consider utilizing the Amazon wish link shopping list or you can give a monetary gift under Giving to Foodshare.