Study finds 22% of young adults in college cannot afford food, despite working and receiving financial aid

San Bernardino, Calif. – Food insecurity among college students has become more common in recent years. A recent study entitled “Hunger on Campus: The Challenge of Food Insecurity for College Students,” surveyed 3,765 college students across 34 campuses in 12 states and found that 22 percent of the respondents were below the level of food insecurity and were considered to be hungry instead of insecure. The study also found that contrary to common stereotypes, most food insecure students are working and receiving financial aid*.

Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from the Kaiser Foundation to help address this critical issue faced by students who are working diligently to become educated, contributing members of our communities.

CAPSBC CEO Patricia L. Nickols-Butler stated, “Low-income college students need our support while they endeavor to better themselves. We are grateful to Kaiser Foundation for recognizing the importance of nutrition in education and making this investment in our young adults who represent the future of our communities.”

The nonprofit CAPSBC has been operating its Food Bank program since 1984. It is the largest provider of emergency food in San Bernardino County. The growing need of students prompted higher educational institutions to seek help from the Food Bank. As a result, the Campus Cupboard program was launched in January 2018. Current partner sites include San Bernardino Valley College and Chaffey College campuses in Fontana, Chino, and Rancho Cucamonga. Kaiser Permanente’s investment in the Campus Cupboard program will enable us to expand services in areas of high need in San Bernardino County.

The Campus Cupboard Program promotes healthy choices in the foods given as part of the Food Bank’s overall healthy Food Banking initiatives. Health nutrition education information for students will also be made available at the sites.

*Source: “Hunger on Campus: the Challenge of Food Insecurity for College Students” – October 2016 published by the College and University Food Bank Alliance, the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the Student Government Resource Center and the Student Public Interest Research Groups.

Youth and Young Adult support programs at Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County

CAPSBC has worked diligently in developing initiatives to support youth and young adults in our communities with events like the 2017 High Desert Youth Poverty Symposium and 2018 Summer Book Fest. This year CAPSBC also co-located two great partners on-site who provide services to youth and young adults in need: Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy and Youth Action Project. Pictured here are recent group graduates of a security guard training class for which all participants later became employed. This program is now being offered by Young Visionaries with CAPSBC providing classroom space and case management support for participants. CAPSBC is dedicated to helping make our county a better place to live for all of us. If you would like to support this work, please make a donation at: www.capsbc.org/donate

About Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County

Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino is the designated Community Action Agency for San Bernardino County providing one million services annually to low-income individuals and families to help lift them out of poverty. We have been serving San Bernardino County since 1965. As one of the largest non-profit human services agency in San Bernardino County, CAPSBC provides resources and opportunities to the low-income to improve their lives, contribute to their communities and offers a return on investment for our communities, cities and county. Programs include Home Weatherization, Home Energy Assistance, Family Development, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and the CAPSBC Food Bank. Please call 909-723-1500 or e-mail info@capsbc.org or visit our website www.capsbc.org for more information.

About Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

Kaiser Permanente’s San Bernardino County Area has provided comprehensive, affordable health care to the Inland Empire for 75 years and serves nearly 600,000 members. The San Bernardino County Service Area includes the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in Fontana and Ontario, and medical offices in Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, Claremont, Montclair, Chino, San Bernardino, Victorville, Hesperia, Redlands, and Upland.