At Swipe Out Hunger, we believe in the power of storytelling to drive real change—how we talk about college hunger shapes understanding, care, and the solutions we believe are possible. Too often, college is portrayed as a time of independence and privilege, masking the realities of today’s students who are balancing work, family, and school while struggling to meet basic needs.
By elevating student voices and grounding their stories in data, Swipe Out Hunger works to shift the narrative from individual blame to systemic solutions and build momentum for change.
In 2025, media coverage played a critical role in making college hunger visible with each of the stories below featuring Swipe Out Hunger’s data, partnerships, and expertise.
1. NPR: “2 in 5 college students face food insecurity — colleges are working to help”
This NPR report examined the scale of college hunger and the stigma that often keeps students from seeking support. Students shared that pretending everything is “fine” only deepens the struggle, underscoring how accessing food resources can be essential to staying enrolled and focused on their education.
2. Inside Higher Ed: “College food pantry helps students combat food insecurity”
Inside Higher Ed spotlighted Boston’s Roxbury Community College and their food pantry that provides groceries, diapers, and essential items, emphasizing dignity and access. The article challenged the notion that students should feel shame for experiencing hunger, instead pointing to the systems that allow food insecurity to persist on college campuses.
3. News Decoder: “What’s not part of university requirements? Eating.”
News Decoder questioned why eating is treated as optional rather than fundamental in higher education. The piece argued that institutions often measure success through graduation rates and employment outcomes, while overlooking a more basic requirement for learning: the ability to eat regularly.
Behind every statistic is a real student navigating difficult choices. By changing the story about who college is for and what it takes to succeed, we open the door to policies, programs, and practices that ensure every student can achieve their academic goals.
If you’re interested in helping amplify student voices and change the narrative around college hunger, reach out to [email protected] to learn more.
