We would like to first recognize Cathy Willoughby and the work she has done to create and

maintain along with the advising team, a food pantry located within two cabinets in the
Advising Center, this proposal is to build upon and enhance that good work.
Jaclyn Emerson, Program Coordinator Academic Advising
Laurie Malone, Associate Director of Advising
Molly Scruta, Program Manager for Inclusion and Involvement
Cathy Willoughby, Senior Academic Advisor
September 23, 2019

Background and Campus Need

As defined by the World Health Organization, a person is food insecure when they cannot afford
food, can’t easily access food, or are unsure about where they will get food in the future.
Food insecurity and our local community:
As it can be directly associated with poverty, please note that Cincinnati ranked 3rd (behind
Cleveland and Detroit) in the country for child poverty. (http://cintishares.org/snap/CS-
CintiSNAP/FAQ.html)
Adults who are food insecure in Cincinnati? See map below, Cincinnati is a whopping 31%

Source: https://www.nkytribune.com/2017/09/food-insecurity-in-the-region-health-survey-
shows-sobering-2-in-10-are-hungry-or-close-to-hunger/
 Food insecurity and college students:
A study looking at food insecurity published in October 2016 which surveyed 3,765 students inn
34 institutions across 10 states found that 48% of college students experience food insecurity.
With nearly 25% of 2-year College students experienced very low food insecurity.
https://studentsagainsthunger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Hunger_On_Campus.pdf
A follow up study in April of 2018, which reported on 44,000 student in 34 campus’ across 20
states found similar results reporting 42% of community college student experiencing food
insecurity.
https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Wisconsin-HOPE-Lab-Still-Hungry-and-
Homeless.pdf
Food insecurity and UCBA students:
How many UCBA students suffer from food insecurity? Quantitatively, if food insecurity is in
fact tied to low-income, please consider this:
“Two-thirds of all Pell Grant recipients have family income at or below 150% of the poverty
line, (67.5%) Compared with one-sixth of non-recipients”
http://www.finaid.org/educators/ProfileofPellGrantRecipients.pdf
Table 1:

% of First- Average Net

# % of First-
Time Full-Time Price for First-
Academic Year Undergraduates Time Full-Time
Receiving Any Time Full-Time
Receiving Pell Receiving Pell
Aid Receiving Pell
2016 ( 5065) 2051 37.4% 79.8% $11,283
2017 (4818) 1859 38.6% 89.0% $13,242
2018 (4779) 1789 40.5% 74% $12,007

Data Source IPEDS Student Financial Aid Survey/UCBA IR

This data shows us that in 2018 AY 1789 students received Pell, 2/3 = 1181 students could be
living at 150% of the poverty line. For reference that is a family of four at $37,650 yearly
income. ( https://familiesusa.org/product/federal-poverty-guidelines)
Qualitatively: We all work with students and hear their stories. At times they may not be Pell
recipients, not considered low SES. But some are not supported by parents, or have good jobs
but are facing a large car repair bill. We know that food insecurity is not always tied to low
income.
Additionally Cengage provides information on their website that says 4 in 10 students’ skipped
meals in order to pay for textbooks.
Our proposed solution:
Increase capacity of our existing food pantry:
The current pantry is in the middle of the advising office. Unfortunately, we know that
food insecurity can elicit shame in some and this current location does not allow for the
discreet service that is desired among potential users. We believe that the pantry as it
stands now has given us 5 years of anecdotal data proving that our students are hungry.
Many students come in and walk around and grab food we have set out. Some, but we
feel many more are out there, do ask for more help than just snacks.
We are proposing new-designated pantry space. – our idea is Muntz 133 this is private
enough for some anonymity while not being cast away in a dark dank unused space that
could communicate shame. It is right across from Public Safety ensuring safety of the
users and workers. Near a door for deliveries or for students to pull a car around if
desired.
CHALLENGE: Space used for files now.
Strengthen model and sustainability:
Create a way to track usage (not names) to determine use and need. Utilize interns (pre-
social work, or business student interested in non-profit work) or potential undergrad or
graduate students in social work programs Uptown – These would need to be unpaid but
that is the norm among social work internships/practicums. Another proposed idea is
created a FWS position.
Build sustainability through campus and community collaborations (food drives, fund
raising, partnerships).

Below is an outline for a new and improved Campus Food Pantry

Vision, Mission, and Inclusion Statement
Vision: All UCBA (and UC) students have access to food to support their academic journey.
Mission: Provide food pantry access for all UCBA (and UC) students providing nourishment,
consumer education, and resources leading to long-term independence and a sustainable food
pantry service.
Inclusion Statement: Recognizing food insecurity disproportionately affects under-represented
students while also recognizing that food insecurity can happen to any student. We pledge to
serve all UCBA (and UC) students regardless of race, gender identification, socio-economic
status, citizenship status, ability, or age and to do so in an unbiased and dignified way.
Objectives:
1. Phase One: Propose, plan, prepare, and communicate.
2. Phase Two: Open an on-campus food pantry.
3. Phase three Operate/sustain food pantry.

1. Phase One
a. Submit proposal to leadership
b. Write full Strategic and business plan.
c. Develop partnerships:
i. Honors students
ii. New Program Coordinator for Social Services Support /Counseling
iii. Diversity and Inclusion committee
iv. Staff Senate/Staff council
v. Faculty Senate
vi. Bleuzette Marshall ( gave verbal message to Cathy she is interested in
supporting)
vii. Advising and Student Life
1. Identity groups, student government
viii. External partnerships
1. With support from Jennifer Berigan
d. Raise Awareness/Marketing Plan
i. Name pantry ( student contest)
ii. Create Logo (AGC students?)
iii. Honors Students
e. Procure physical space for food pantry. (Muntz 133?)
i. Procure operational needs ( in-kind donations from college, community
donations, use CPS Strong funds)
1. Shelving
2. Carts
3. Desk/Chair for worker
4. Laptop ( can be old won’t need too much capability)
5. Chest freezer (Costco $140)
ii. Stock pantry
1. Food drives ( Honors, other clubs and orgs)
2. Utilized $ CPS strong
3. Community drives/donations

f. Join the College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA)

 2. Phase Two: Open food pantry
a. Staffing
i. Hire intern/student worker
1. Interns from social work, non -profit business students, and higher-
education under-grad and graduate programs, undergrad and
graduate social worker practicum students.
2. Create FWS position
3. Consider low-cost incentives ( e.g. faculty parking pass)
ii. Recruit volunteer pool to support student intern/workers
b. Develop/maintain data keeping process.
c. Continual food drives
i. External
ii. Internal student clubs and orgs/honors
d. Continue to provide grab and go snacks in the advising center as students have
become used to this service.

3. Phase Three
a. Sustainability:
a. Free store Food Bank Partnership.
i. Fresh “farmer’s market”
b. Continual food drives.
c. Partner with community partners
d. Fund raising:
i. Annual giving
ii. Empty bowls program
iii. Alumni Association.
e. Permanent space once renovations begin in Muntz floor 1

Frequently Asked Questions for Starting a Food Pantry

Following are frequently asked questions to ask when starting a campus pantry from College and
University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA) and some initial answers:
1. What is the need on your campus?

See table 1 and qualitative answer under Food insecurity and UCBA students: in
proposal
2. Who will organize and run it?
a. Advising/Student life development team Co-ops, interns, student volunteers,
faculty/staff volunteers.
3. How will you fund/food raise to get started, and to keep it going?
a. Food drives.
b. Employee fund drive.
c. CPS Strong funding
d. Partnership/ food bank, local companies.
4. Will you serve students only, or will the community have access?
a. Registered UC students only.
5. What kind of space is available on your campus, and how do you access it?
a. TBD
6. Can you find a fiscal nonprofit sponsor so you can partner with your state or a local food
bank?
a. Yes, UCBA.
7. What are the risk management concerns on your campus?
a. See: Emerson Food Donation Act, Good Samaritan Law, 1996
8. How will you do outreach to let people know you exist?
a. Marketing on campus, posters, and student activities.
9. What kinds of foods will you offer: non-perishable, frozen, fresh?
a. Begin with non-perishable and frozen
b. The potential for fresh and semi-perishable in the future
10. How often will you distribute: weekly, biweekly, and ongoing?
a. Weekly, only during active semester.
11. How will you distribute: shopping style, boxed?
a. Shopping/ choice pantry
12. Where will you store excess food?
a. In Pantry
13. How will you recruit and train volunteers?
a. Recruit from campus: SRC, Faculty, Communications
14. How will you maintain confidentiality?
a. Maintain data and records according to FERPA – no plan to collect names.
b. Use reusable/ unidentifiable bags
15. What other resources will you offer?
a. Referrals to outside pantries, assistance
16. How will determine who qualifies?
a. All registered students
17. Who will handle press inquiries?
a. Communications department.
18. Who are your campus/community partners?
a. Campus partners: (Potential)Counseling Services, Social work program,
Internship office; Alumni relations, academic departments, student government
and orgs, faculty senate, Staff council/Senate
b. Community Partners: ( Potential again)
a. Freestore foodbank, Aldi’s Target, CBO’s Bearcat Pantry
19. What is your sustainability plan?
a. See objectives, TBD further