May 30, 2024 – Santa Fe College students and employees facing food insecurity have a valuable resource available to them. Whether you need a full week’s worth of groceries or a quick snack, Saints Food Share is here to help you all year long.
Saints Food Share is dedicated to reducing food insecurity, which can enhance students’ lives and enrich our community. Students can request a personalized week’s supply of groceries, which typically includes canned goods and other non-perishable items. These groceries can be received on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, or even as a one-time request.
Students can also visit a grab-and-go pantry to pick up pre-made bags of groceries and snacks. Locations include the:
- Student Life lobby
- Student Affairs lobby
- TRIO lobby
- SFPD lobby
- Blount Center
- Davis Center
- Watson Center
Supply
Beginning as a volunteer operation, the program has grown into a college-supported department.
The program receives much of its food through donations. Events like Boo at the Zoo are typically the year’s biggest food drives. The 2023 event brought in approximately 6,000 canned goods.
The team also collaborates with students to accommodate their dietary needs. For instance, if someone follows a gluten-free diet, Food Share ensures the provided food meets their requirements. Students get what they need instead of throwing away what they can’t eat.
Demand
From August 2023 to April 2024, Food Share experienced substantial growth in its outreach efforts, fulfilling 1,140 grocery bag requests and distributing 9,663 pounds of non-perishable groceries. This marked a significant increase compared to the previous period, from August 2022 to April 2023, during which Food Share fulfilled 431 grocery bag requests and distributed 5,108 pounds of non-perishable groceries.
Of students served:
- 70% receive financial aid.
- 43% are first-generation students.
- 25% are employed on-campus.
- 20% are international students.
- 12% are experiencing both food insecurity and housing insecurity.
We’re Here to Help
Saints Food Share is one way we help students during their academic journeys. From counseling to financial wellness, we have the services students need to succeed. Learn more at news.sfcollege.edu/2024/04/12/were-here-to-help-santa-fe-college-2.