Food insecurity affects thousands of college students across the United States each year, creating barriers to education. Many students are left hungry, relying on a pack of instant ramen and whatever they can scrape together at a corner store. At Madison College, the Cupboard Student Food Pantry, run by Peer Health Education, has been addressing this struggle in hopes of keeping students happy, healthy and well-fed.
A challenge the program faced was the lack of permanent space, having operated out of a space that was once an old storage closet. Now, after a hectic period of construction and remodeling last summer, the Cupboard Student Food Pantry has moved into its own custom-built space.
The Student Wellness Center, in Room 101 of the Health Building, was designed to support student success by promoting wellness and helping students thrive in school and beyond.
The space will host Peer Health Education programming, educational events and activities. The food processing facility in the back of the room functions as the heart of the student food pantry…