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Food Security Project

 

Who we are

The Fresno State Food Security Project is a multi-initiative program to support students who may be experiencing food insecurity or other challenges that might inhibit their academic success at Fresno State. These initiatives were created to reach out to students in varying levels of food insecurity, as well as provide students with education and resources available to them both on and off campus.

Initiatives include:

Our history

The Food Security Project was created in August 2014, and officially launched in November 2014, to find ways to support our current Fresno State students experiencing food insecurity or other challenges. Fresno State Public Health faculty member, Alida Espinoza, conducted research through her masters thesis about food insecurity at Fresno State. From her research, approximately 31% of students she surveyed were experiencing food insecurity at Fresno State. A Food Security Advisory Board was created on campus to discuss ways to support our students. The Advisory Board, which is made up of students, faculty, staff and administrators, created the mult-initiative program that would support students experiencing all levels of food insecurity and other challenges such as housing displacement, catastrophic events, etc. 

Our community

Together we have:

  • Created the CSU’s first diaper distribution program (now housed in the university’s Student Health and Counseling Center), which has supported over 10,000 families since 2019.
  • Started a recycling program that has raised money to be reinvested into the university’s Center for Essential Needs. 
  • Provided produce to students through building a garden with the help of the California Climate Corps and a partnership with the Asian Business Institute Resource Center.
  • Increased sustainability efforts through a partnership with California Climate Corps and El Dorado Park. 
  • Provided employment opportunities to students with disabilities through Fresno Unified School District Adult Learning, Fresno State TARGET and Fresno State Wayfinders.