University resources tackle food insecurity
Various initiatives and events on campus offer free, nutritious food to ensure no meals are skipped
Millions of Americans, many of them students, may be short on food this Thanksgiving season. That’s why San Francisco State University wants to remind students of the many resources on campus — made possible by the Basic Needs Initiatives, Associated Students (AS) and other programs and organizations — that provide access to free, nutritious food.
Be a Good Neighbor, Feed a Gator
This community meal-sharing program provides students experiencing a food security crisis with free meals at the City Eats dining hall on campus. Meals are donated by students, faculty, staff and community members.
CalFresh Help Clinic
Students can apply to the CalFresh program, which provides money each month for buying groceries. Those interested can meet with a CalFresh Navi-Gator — students trained to assist with a CalFresh application — to learn more about the program and how to get started.
AS Gator Groceries
In partnership with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Gator Groceries has two distribution services that provide students access to free food. For details about operating hours and locations, visit the Gator Groceries website.
Gator Grub Alert
With this function available through the SF State mobile app developed by Information Technology Services, students can sign up to be notified when there is free food on campus. This feature lets staff and faculty post information about excess catered food after their events, which helps feed students while reducing food waste.
In addition, here are a couple upcoming campus events that also address food insecurity.
Food+Shelter+Success
The Basic Needs Initiatives will host the first annual Food+Shelter+Success event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, on the Quad. The event aims to raise awareness about student hunger and housing insecurity while connecting the campus community to relevant resources. Attendees can learn more about basic needs and engage in games, art and giveaways.
Cooking Classes
Health Promotion & Wellness hosts a series of hands-on cooking classes that provide students with the skills to prepare quick, healthy and delicious meals and snacks. The next class, which will focus on meal prepping, will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in Burk Hall 406. Students interested can RSVP online.
For more information about how SF State and its campus partners are tackling food insecurity and other basic needs, please visit the Basic Needs Initiatives website.