CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, advanced the “Hunger-Free Campus Act,” a bill that would establish a Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program.
The program would be established by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The purpose of the program shall be to provide grants to public institutions of higher education that have one or more campuses that are designated by the secretary as hunger-free campuses.
According to the language of Senate Bill 578, the purpose of the grant funding shall be to address student hunger, leverage more sustainable solutions to address basic food needs on campus, raise awareness of services currently offered on campus that address basic food needs, and address food insecurity among students.
The grant funding would also be used to continue to build strategic partnerships at the local, state, and national levels to address food insecurity among students.
Senator Mike Oliverio (R-Monongalia) acknowledged that food insecurity on college campuses is an issue. “I had an opportunity to visit with students from West Virginia University, one of the schools I represent, and was surprised to some degree that among their top three priorities, they were very concerned about students going hungry,” Oliverio told the committee.
The bill would establish a Campus Hunger Task Force that meets a minimum of three times per
academic year to set at least two goals with action plans.
Part of the action plans includes designating a staff member responsible for assisting students with enrollment in West Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), options for students to utilize SNAP benefits at campus stores, providing at least one physical food pantry on campus, developing a “Swipe Out Hunger” student meal credit sharing program, and annually conduct a student survey on hunger.
Stella Dunn, Vice President of the State Advisory Council of Students, says that this bill will allow more students to have assistance and education on help that is available.
“There are resources like SNAP benefits and food pantries that do exist on our campuses. However, many students don’t know that they’re available, or they aren’t funded appropriately for nutritious healthy meals for students,” Dunn said.
The bill was advanced on a voice vote with the recommendation that it be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. Senate Bill 578 will first go to the Senate Finance Committee.