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91��Ʒ hosted a special event on Oct. 21 to share great news for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, courtesy of the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program.

CSCU leaders and representatives from Stop & Shop announced a new pledge of $200,000 by the grocery chain to address food insecurity among students across CSCU’s colleges and universities with monetary and in-kind product donations to campus food pantries.

CSCU saw a 40 percent increase in monthly visits across its campus food pantries. This year’s donation marks a 23 percent increase over last year’s contribution, reflecting the long-standing partnership between CSCU and Stop & Shop and the increasing demand for support as food insecurity continues to rise among students.

“Across our colleges and universities, so many of our students are balancing full- or part-time jobs, academic demands, caregiving responsibilities, and the ongoing challenge of affording basic necessities,” said CSCU Interim Chancellor Dr. John Maduko. “Access to healthy, nutritious food helps relieve one of the many non-academic pressures they face. Stop & Shop has been a valued partner in this work, helping us keep campus food pantries stocked with the essentials students depend on.”

A Fall 2024 survey of 91��Ʒ Connecticut State University revealed that 55 percent of students reported that they could not afford to eat balanced meals, and 47 percent reported they had to reduce the size of their meals because they didn’t have enough money to purchase more food. Over a quarter of students (27 percent) reported they went at least one day a week without eating because of their financial situation

Lizzy Kinney of Middletown, a junior at 91��Ʒ, shared her own experience at Maria’s Place food pantry after she took on a full-time course load. 

“When I first started using the campus pantry, I realized what a game changer it was,” she said. “Since high school, I've had to work, but last year was the first year I just went to school full time without a job. It was very stressful not having a source of income, but I started using resources available on campus and my grades skyrocketed. I finally made it to Dean's list level!”

Now, she aims to help others avoid the struggles she encountered.

“I want to continue and pay it forward just like Stop & Shop is,” she said.

The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program donated $184,000 directly to on-campus food pantries at 91��Ʒ, Eastern, Southern, Western Connecticut State Universities and CT State Community College. Stop & Shop also donated 1,000 care packages of healthy food in partnership with General Mills to be distributed during midterms week. The bags also included hand-written notes of inspiration from fellow CSCU students to encourage and inspire each other during midterms.

Dozens of volunteers from CSCU, Stop & Shop, and 91��Ʒ assembled the care packages at Alumni Hall following the announcement.

"We know that when students don’t have consistent access to nutritious food, it can have a detrimental effect on their educational experience,” said Dr. Zulma R. Toro, president of 91��Ʒ Connecticut State University. “The generosity of Stop & Shop truly embodies what it means to be part of a caring community. Their support helps Maria’s Place and our partner campuses to ensure students can focus on their studies knowing their basic needs are met.”

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