Defining Food Insecurity
According to USDA, food insecurity is defined as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life."
Food insecurity for college students can have serious repercussions on their overall health and academic performance, both of which are important for retention and access to future opportunities. Students facing food insecurity are more likely to rate their health as fair, poor or very poor; rate more frequent depression symptoms; and experience more limits to opportunities to study and get involved.
Food Insecurity at U of I
A 2020 study from the National College Health Assessment showed that at U of I, 45% of Vandals report being food insecure at some point during their academic year. That’s nearly half of our student population who lack access to nutritious foods essential for each student to fulfill their Vandal potential.
Why Give to the Vandal Food Pantry
Our objective is to decrease the percentage of the student population that is facing food insecurity on the University of Idaho campus. Your gift will go to support meal kits that provide nutritious, shelf-safe food for 3-4 days for the average adult. Each meal kits is assembled according to the USDA My Plate Program to promote a balanced diet.
As a Vandal Family, we believe it is important to support each other and work together to make sure that no one falls through the cracks or is left behind. Whether it is through acceptance to the university or being hired on as staff or faculty, we all have this university binding us together as one group. Our camaraderie as Vandals means that, whether right here in Moscow, Idaho, or all the way across the world, we can say “Go Vandals” to a fellow Vandal and receive a spirited “Go Vandals!” right back. This is the power of the Vandal spirit. The Vandal Food Pantry is one way that we, as Vandals, continue to support each other. By giving to the Vandal Food Pantry, you are saying that you believe in the power of the Vandal Family and that there should be #novandalhungry.
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ID | 24 |
| 2 | WA | 3 |
| 3 | CA | 1 |
