By Crystal Donaldson
NORMAL – A national study shows the cost of tuition combined with books, rent, and other bills have some college students going hungry.
A survey by the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness found in the last 30 days, 48 percent of college students reported not having enough food.
Heartland Community College started a food share program in 2012 with assistance from Midwest Food Bank.
Heartland’s Director of Counseling Services, Faye Freeman-Smith, said the food share program has had a profound impact on the students.
“We’ve gotten responses from students some of them tell us they couldn’t have gotten through Heartland and completed their work if they didn’t have some access to food. We have regulars come by because they count on the food,” said Freeman-Smith.
Freeman-Smith said Heartland is working toward having a self sufficient food bank for college students and community members.
Crystal Donaldson can be reached at crystal.donaldson@cumulus.com.
