Mississippi colleges open food pantries to help students meet basic needs
Campus pantries and closets are expanding as surveys show 59% of college students lack at least one basic need, officials said.
- Universities across Mississippi are expanding food pantries and resource closets this semester, responding to students' growing needs for basic necessities like groceries and clothing.
- Rising costs for food and on-campus housing have strained students' budgets, with federal data showing these expenses increased in recent years alongside tuition hikes at some institutions.
- The University of Southern Mississippi's Eagle's Nest Food Pantry recorded 2,785 visits last school year, while Delta State University's Statesman's Shelf doubled its visits to 1,672 in 2025-26.
- University of Mississippi Medical Center director of student services Jonathan Nutt said the goal is to serve any student in need, as faculty and staff increasingly share these resources with struggling peers.
- Students are juggling multiple financial demands, as volunteer Hali Hollman noted, "We are juggling all kinds of expenses," while transportation issues also complicate access to off-campus grocery stores.
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Mississippi colleges open food pantries to help students meet basic needs - WXXV News 25
Volunteer coordinator Jennifer Ennis sorts clothing at Okra Threads, an on-campus thrift store, at Delta State University, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Cleveland. (Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today via AP)By CANDICE WILDER/Mississippi Today When University of Mississippi Medical Center administrators heard that some students were struggling to afford food and other necessities, they stepped up to help. They held a food...
Mississippi Colleges Open Food Pantries for Student Basic Needs
Mississippi colleges open food pantries to help students meet basic needs because rising food costs, tuition increases, and tighter SNAP eligibility are leaving many students unable to afford groceries. Every public university under Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning now operates some form of campus pantry, with the University of Mississippi Medical Center becoming the last […]
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