In 2020, 3.8 million college students experienced food insecurity. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, a majority of these students reported skipping meals or eating less because they couldn’t afford food.
Food insecurity is a growing issue among college students. As the cost of higher education increases, the amount of students with access to affordable and quality food decreases. Food insecurity affects students in a multitude of ways, impacting their academics and overall health.
Colleges can combat these issues by establishing programs that make healthy foods accessible on campus. At the University of Oregon, FOOD For Lane County provides several resources to reduce the likelihood of students facing food insecurity.
FOOD For Lane County (FFLC) is a local nonprofit whose mission is to “reduce hunger by engaging our community to create access to food.” Founded in 1984, FFLC distributes food across a network of more than 150 agencies and distribution sites. Through public awareness, education, and community advocacy, their programs are designed to serve a supply of nutritious foods to low-income individuals.
On the University of Oregon campus, FFLC contributes to a number of programs including, the Student Food Pantry, Produce Drop, and Duck Nest cooking classes.
- Student Food Pantry: Along with the Basic Needs Program and Episcopal Campus Ministries, FFLC provides free supplemental food for college students.
- Produce Drop: In partnership with Trillium Produce Plus, FFLC gives fresh produce to the UO Student Sustainability Center to distribute to students who self-identify as living at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level. FFLC also has additional public sites in and around the Eugene area.
- Cooking classes: FFLC’s Nutrition Education Program partners with Duck Nest, an on-campus well-being resource, to teach students how to cook healthy and affordable meals. They also provide tips on how to stretch limited food budgets through shopping and meal planning.
FFLC’s communication and social media strategies are a key factor in their successful community engagement and outreach. On their website’s homepage, they have several ways for their audience to connect with their programs, including contact and volunteer pages, a form to sign up for their newsletter, and links to their social media accounts.
The social media accounts they utilize are Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. On Instagram and Facebook, they post regularly, promoting events and fundraisers, and encouraging community members to get involved. Their text is broken into short paragraphs and sentences, making information easily digestible for the audience. Their active presence on their social media platforms is a great way for community members to engage and share their content.
I also noticed a large number of the University of Oregon’s clubs and organizations follow the FFLC Instagram account. This shows how their communication strategies are strategic and effective.
Moving forward, I think FFLC should partner with University of Oregon’s social media accounts to share more information about the ways that they help students experiencing food insecurity. By partnering with the school’s accounts, they will reach a wider audience of students and families who can participate and benefit from these programs.
FFLC has demonstrated how the implementation of strong communication and local programs can positively impact a community. Colleges across the country should take inspiration, and build on-campus resources to reduce food insecurity among students.
Check out these links to read more about FFLC’s mission, and its partnership with the University of Oregon:
To read more about food insecurity and its effects, read these articles below:
Sydney McCrone 
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