DeSales University Earns Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Designation
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has designated DeSales University a Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus, officially recognizing the University's caring work and ongoing commitment to supporting student well-being and ensuring access to essential resources.
The designation, awarded through the Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, recognizes colleges and universities that have implemented programs and services to address student food insecurity and other basic needs barriers that can impact academic success.
The achievement reflects DeSales University's dedication to one of its core values, hospitality, by fostering a welcoming and supportive environment where students can thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
“The best thing about being named a Hunger-Free Campus is that it is a true team effort,” said Jaime Gerhart, director of Community Service & Advocacy. “This recognition reflects the generosity and compassion of our faculty, staff, alumni, Institutional Advancement team, and students. Together, we are creating a campus culture where students' basic needs are supported, and our core value of Hospitality is lived out every day.”
Food insecurity remains a significant challenge for college students nationwide. Studies conducted during the pandemic found that more than one-third of students knew someone who had dropped out of college because of food insecurity, while approximately 52% of students experiencing food or housing insecurity did not seek assistance because they were unaware of available resources.
Recognizing the importance of meeting students' basic needs, DeSales has developed several innovative programs designed to ensure students have access to food and other forms of support.
One of the University's most successful initiatives is a food conservation text message service that alerts students, faculty, and staff who subscribe whenever food remains after campus events. The program helps prevent food waste while providing additional meal opportunities to members of the campus community.
DeSales also maintains a free, self-service pantry stocked with snacks and other food items that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for any student in need. The resource provides convenient and confidential access to food assistance throughout the academic year.
“I have relied on the pantry throughout the past three years,” said a DeSales University student. “It is an incredible resource and has been especially important to me as I balance many other expenses, such as gas and textbooks. Knowing I can always access food without worrying about the cost provides peace of mind and allows me to focus on my studies.”
Additional support comes from the University's DSU Care Team Committee, which funds between 25 and 30 food scholarships annually. The scholarships provide students experiencing food insecurity with $100 awards to help cover food-related expenses.
The DeSales community also rallies behind these efforts through charitable giving. During the University's annual campus-wide Thanksgiving celebration, DUCSgiving, the Institutional Advancement Department hosts a fundraising initiative that encourages donations of food and financial contributions to ensure the campus pantry never goes empty.
The Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, launched in 2022 and endorsed by Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, seeks to build a coalition of colleges and universities committed to addressing hunger and other basic needs among students. The initiative provides resources, networking opportunities, and access to grant funding to help institutions strengthen their support systems and share best practices.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education continues to enhance the program to ensure it remains responsive to the evolving needs of students and aligned with emerging best practices in higher education.
For DeSales University, earning the Hunger-Free Campus designation affirms a campus-wide commitment to student success and the belief that no student should have to choose between focusing on their education and meeting basic nutritional needs.