Will Virginia fund college food pantries or leave students struggling?
During a House subcommittee hearing, college students hold up "Pass Hunger Free Campus in Virginia" signs. (Photo courtesy of Swipe Out Hunger)
A half-million-dollar budget proposal could be a game-changer for Virginia college students struggling with food insecurity. Advocates are urging House lawmakers and Gov. Glenn Youngkin to follow the Senate's lead and support the funding, which would establish a food pantry grant program to help students in need.
'This is a budget amendment where, if D.C. rips public benefits away and Virginia legislators are not funding basic needs works on their campuses, we're going to have an exponential growth in the number of Virginia students who are dropping out of school,' said Robb Friedlander, director of advocacy at Swipe Out Hunger, a nonprofit tackling student food insecurity.
Friedlander pushed back against the perception that college students are mostly middle- to high-income and white. The reality, he said, is that today's student body is far more diverse. Many are first-generation students, over half are financially independent from their parents, and the majority juggle part-time jobs while pursuing their degrees.
A quarter of college students in Virginia are also parents.
Campus food pantries are seeing greater demand — and more state dollars
'This is who our college students are today,' said Friedlander, adding that as tuition, housing, and grocery costs continue to skyrocket, students are fighting through relentless barriers just to stay in school and improve their economic future.
But just how widespread food insecurity is among Virginia's college students remains unclear. Many public colleges and universities don't track the issue, and the social stigma surrounding hunger often keeps students from seeking help, according to a November report by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
The council surveyed 35 out of 39 institutions, representing 343,797 students. Of those, only eight schools had conducted research on student food insecurity, while 19 had not, and another eight either didn't know or chose not to disclose their findings.
On Feb. 2, the Senate passed a budget bill allocating $500,000 to support food pantries at public and nonprofit private colleges participating in the tuition assistance grant program. The proposal outlines that SCHEV will award grants to schools that establish an on-campus food pantry or partner with local food banks to connect students with resources in the area.
The program ensures that food will be free of charge, and students will not be required to prove food insecurity to access pantry services. Institutions that meet the criteria will earn the 'Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry' designation, with funds available to support on-campus hunger initiatives. Any unused funds will roll over into the next fiscal year.
SCHEV is set to report on the program's progress by July 1, 2026.
Meanwhile, House Bill 2240 and Senate Bill 1016, sponsored by Del. Rae Cousins, D-Richmond, and Sen. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, have successfully advanced to their opposite chambers. If passed, they will head to the governor's desk for approval.
Roem, a longtime advocate for free meals in Virginia's schools and colleges, said the urgency of the issue cannot be ignored.
'Now's the time to do it, especially at a time of so much uncertainty coming into the federal government,' Roem said. 'Virginia needs to step up and Virginia needs to lead.'
Cousins echoed that concern, pointing to federal funding cuts made during Donald Trump's administration, which she said weakened programs that provided essential food access. She warned that a recent executive order could further jeopardize programs like SNAP.
'In this national landscape, it is extremely critical that we do everything we can here in Virginia to invest in programs that fight food insecurity, including funding on-campus food pantries,' Cousins said. 'Addressing food insecurity is important to ensure that all of our students, regardless of their socio-economic background, have the opportunity to succeed.'
With bipartisan support in the Senate, all eyes are now on the House and Youngkin as advocates push to ensure Virginia's college students don't have to choose between paying tuition and affording their next meal.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen resigns to take job with conservative nonprofit
Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican, listens to opening day proceedings on the first day of the 2025 session of the Colorado Legislature on Jan. 8, 2025, at the Colorado Capitol. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Senate Minority Paul Lundeen announced Monday that he is resigning from the Legislature to join the leadership of a conservative nonprofit. His resignation is effective immediately. 'Serving Colorado has been an honor and blessing,' the Monument Republican said in a statement. 'I am grateful to the people of Senate District 9 for the opportunity to fight for policies that empower individuals, protect our communities, and promote prosperity. As I transition to a national platform, I am eager to continue advocating for personal freedom, economic opportunity, and common-sense conservative values.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He will lead the American Excellence Foundation, an organization that awards grants to advance conservative public policy. Lundeen served as a state representative from 2015 to 2018 and as a senator since 2019. He is term-limited and could not seek re-election in 2026. Before his time in the Legislature, he served on the State Board of Education, including as chair for two years. He worked on an array of education-related policies while in office. The Senate Republican caucus will meet on Thursday evening to select a new minority leader. A vacancy committee of Republicans from Senate District 9 will also need to meet to select a replacement for Lundeen. In a statement, Gov. Jared Polis thanked Lundeen for his public service. 'Paul has always found ways to work across the aisle, and do what is best for the people he has served,' the Democrat wrote. 'We've often found common ground on the issues that matter most to Coloradans, like education, public safety and growing our economy. Senator Lundeen has spent decades in public service, in addition to his time leading small businesses, and his presence and leadership will be missed at the Capitol.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
State Legislature Acts To ‘Make Texas Healthy Again'
Under Senate Bill 25, which awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's signature, Texas could become one of the first states to mandate warning labels on foods containing artificial dyes and specific chemicals. The bill, dubbed the Make Texas Healthy Again Act, requires labels on products containing one or more of some 40-plus additives, such as Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and titanium dioxide. The label would state: 'WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.' The warning label must be prominent, readable, and would apply to products packaged after January 1, 2027. A loophole allows producers using existing packaging through 2036 to avoid the requirement. The bill also invalidates state labeling rules if federal regulations supersede them. 'Texas can really lead here. … These bills represent a Texas way that prioritizes transparency, prioritizes good education and prioritizes incentive change,' Calley Means, a top adviser to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said during a Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing. Beyond labeling, SB 25 increases physical activity requirements for middle school students from four to six semesters of 30-minute daily sessions and mandates nutrition education for undergraduates, developed by a seven-member Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee appointed by the governor by December 31, 2025. The committee would include experts in metabolic health, a licensed physician, a Texas Department of Agriculture representative, and others. In addition, doctors and nurses must complete continuing education on nutrition to maintain their licenses. 'This sweeping legislation is not just another bill. It's a call to action — one that so many Texans and Americans are realizing — that something is wrong and that something needs to change in our food industry and in our sedentary lifestyle,' Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), the bill's sponsor, told The Texas Tribune. The bill garnered bipartisan support, with 10 Senate Democrats and three House Democrats sponsoring or co-sponsoring. 'This is about the MAHA parents and the crunchy granola parents coming together to say, 'We are sick and tired of being sick and tired,'' said Rep. Lacey Hull (R-Houston) before the House passed the bill on May 25. Food industry groups, including Walmart, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, General Mills, and Frito-Lay, opposed the labeling, warning in a letter that it 'could destabilize local and regional economies.' Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-San Antonio) expressed concern that 'the cost of food will continue to rise,' the Tribune reported. Kolkhorst countered in February that 'the market will adjust.' Supporters, like the Episcopal Health Foundation, see health benefits. 'The amount of money and time we're spending treating diabetes as opposed to preventing it is huge, especially in Texas,' said Brian Sasser, the foundation's chief communications officer, per the Tribune. Andy Keller of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute added, 'In a world that pretends the brain is not part of the body, this bill will put tools in the hands of children, parents and teachers to begin truly addressing emotional health and wellbeing.' The bill aligns with federal Make America Healthy Again initiatives, with Kolkhorst noting Kennedy's personal call urging its passage. 'As in so many cases, we're not waiting on Washington,' said Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) in February. 'Texas will act.'
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Two Illinois senators help introduce bill on gun industry negligence
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTWO/WAWV)— Two Illinois Senators helped introduce a bill Monday that they believe will hold gun companies and sellers more liable in court. Senator Tammy Duckworth(D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with the help of many others including senators, U.S. Representatives, and and more than 80 members of congress introduced the bill Monday. The bill is entitled the Equal Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act. They believe the bill will ensure victims of gun violence can get their day in court. It will also repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) that was passed by Congress in 2005. The PLCAA gives the gun industry a unique legal liability shield that protects manufacturers from lawsuits. They believe that repealing this will allow gun companies and gun sellers to face liability for acts of gun violence that threaten public safety. 'The needless gun violence that too many Illinoisans—and Americans across the country—experience is heartbreaking and not reflective of the kind of future my daughters or any of our young people deserve,' Duckworth said. 'That's why I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, which will hold gun manufacturers accountable and bring justice to grieving families. I'll never stop working for commonsense gun safety reforms.' Congress originally stated that the reason for the PLCAA was that it was necessary to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits. Due to this, though, the press release from the Senate states that numerous cases of gun violence victims around the nation have been dismissed based on the PLCAA, even when gun dealers acted in a way that would be negligent for other products. 'It's unconscionable that the gun industry is shielded from the consequences of negligent behavior that would result in liability if this were any other product,' said Durbin. 'Gun dealers and manufacturers do not deserve special treatment, and certainly not at the expense of the communities that are plagued by gun violence. By repealing this unjustifiable legal liability shield, this bill will allow victims of gun violence to seek justice and have their day in court.' The legislation is endorsed by Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Newtown Action Alliance, and Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund. For full wording of the bill, you can click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
