Despite its reputation as one of the greatest food cities in the United States, New Orleans faces a crisis much less well-known than its beignets and po-boys. Food insecurity, or the lack of access to fresh, healthy food, affects 16.4% of New Orleanians, according to recent data from the city of New Orleans. This figure is higher than the national average, which is around 13.5% according to a 2023 statistic from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Tulane University was designated a hunger-free campus in 2023, following the creation of Louisiana’s hunger-free campus program. To receive the designation, Tulane established a Hunger-Free Task Force, led by Catherine Tyner, assistant dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs.
The Swipe Out Hunger Program gives students three meal swipes for use in any dining hall, up to two times per semester. Applying for extra swipes only requires students to submit their ID number…