“Can I Afford to Eat Today ?” Food Insecurity and Financial Literacy at Temple
- TU-AMA
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
What would you do if you had to choose between buying lunch or buying your textbook?
For some college students this isn't a mere hypothetical but a reality. Food insecurity is defined as the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet one’s basic needs. Food insecurity affects 23% of undergraduate students nationwide, which translates to 4 million students struggling to eat everyday. This can lead to stress, lack of focus, or decrease in productivity because a student is hungry. Overall it has a negative effect on a student’s college experience. Simultaneously, this is also a period where many students are learning to budget and manage money for the first time. Saving, paying tuition, building credit, or making other important financial decisions with limited resources. Financial literacy is a necessary skill, one we are not always taught in high school or at home. This leaves many unprepared for the financial woes of adulthood.Financial literacy is defined as the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing.
These two issues overlap and play a big role in a student’s experience. If you can’t manage your money how can you make money last the whole semester? How can you pay for food and other necessities? If you're hungry, how can you stay focused and keep up with the fast pace? This can then incite a challenging cycle for students that affects their academic performance and overall well-being.
Here at Temple, students have great resources right here on campus! Cherry Pantry is a free food pantry that offers food and personal hygiene products to students. During the Academic Year of 2023-2024, the pantry had over 9,000 visits and distributed 20,000+ pounds of produce. Outside of Temple there are some great external resources like GoodCheap Eats and Community Resource Connects.
In addition, Temple’s Financial Committee offers group and individual sessions for students who want support and financial education. Every April they host various financial initiatives throughout Financial Literacy Month. During the fall and spring semesters, they have guest speaker events in-person and on Zoom. Temple has also partnered with iGrad to provide students access to a free financial literacy platform. It personalizes financial information to tailor to each student’s specific situation and needs. There are also mobile apps like Mint and NerdWallet that help with budget and money management.
If you are struggling with food insecurity or financial challenges remember you are not alone. Don't hesitate to reach out to these resources and ask for help.If you're not experiencing this you can help by sharing resources, checking in on friends, and supporting campus programs like Cherry Pantry. By educating ourselves and taking advantage of the resources available to us we can make our school a more supportive environment for all students.
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