Food Resources for the Food Insecure

Words by Jennifer Garcia

Image Courtesy of CCNY Benny’s Food Pantry

The pandemic has turned the stereotype of the broke, starving college student into an unfortunate reality. CUNY students are no exception to this. A 2018 Healthy CUNY survey found that 52,550 undergraduate students have limited or uncertain access to food across CUNY. Despite how prevalent food insecurity is for CUNY students, many don't know that there is a food pantry on the City College campus available to those in need. According to City College students, more still needs to be done to foster an open conversation about the basic needs insecurities of CUNY students and expand the resources that are available.

Struggling CUNY students often have to make the impossible choice of whether to spend their money on tuition, student loan repayments, or groceries. The issue comes down to a lack of resources available to students. Jaelene Valdez, a senior at the City College of New York, feels the subject is taboo. "It comes from the way I was raised. I was taught issues like that are meant to stay at home."

With the increase of students facing food insecurity, colleges and universities have come to their students' aid. Benny's Pantry (located in the Hoffman Lounge of the North Academic Center) is a food pantry open to the CUNY community. It also offers SNAP referrals, emergency grants through the Colin Powell School, and emergency housing referrals. Since the pandemic, they have extended their pantry services to The Towers dormitory on the City College campus. Dee Dee Mozeleski manages the pantry along with Charles Ramirez. They coordinate food donations and funding. Mozeleski notes that the number of students who use the pantry coincides with the statistics. "During the pandemic (at its height), students were not coming to campus, so the in-person visits declined, but the referrals for support services increased (i.e., SNAP requests)." 

Like many other students, Valdez has felt the effects of inflation rates and the pandemic on income. "We have had less food variety in my home. We only get the essentials like eggs, milk, meats, rice, and beans. We've also switched to frozen fruits and veggies since prices have increased so much." To supplement their food stock, Valdez and her family visit food pantries. "I'm familiar with food banks in the East Flatbush area in Brooklyn, but not ones near campus." 

A City College junior, who asked to remain anonymous, has had difficulty finding a reliable food source and was also unaware about Benny’s food pantry. "There are a lot of churches in my neighborhood, but I couldn't find the times they were open and felt awkward asking people for help." It wasn't until she found the site foodpantries.org, which lists food pantries in different neighborhoods and their hours of operation, that she found a food bank near her that was open on her days off of class and work. "After finding a place to start, I got more confidence to go and ask for help. I saw a lot of people my age too and felt less awkward about it." 

Benny's Pantry operates on an honor system. Therefore, users are encouraged to take the resources they need for a family of up to four people. However, Mozelinsky says that they understand that needs vary from person to person, so everyone is encouraged to take what they need. Benny's is open to anyone at any time of day because needs are not limited "between the hours of 9 and 5." They also stock a variety of food items and baby food because of the community's varying needs. 

Mozelinsky hopes all students, faculty, and staff know the pantry and its resources are for them and the people they care about. "Every person who learns about us and spreads the word to others furthers our impact on our CCNY community. The surrounding community has done a lot to increase the much-needed conversation around food insecurity." Valdez feels the conversation about food insecurity should go beyond academic institutions. “Benny’s is a good way to help, but also informing people of other places in other boroughs since people may not feel comfortable talking to schools about their food issues or may live far.”