Food insecurity is defined by the Department of Agriculture as a household's inability to provide enough food for each person to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Moreover, a 2017 study published in the Educational Researcher journal found that up to half of American college students might struggle with food insecurity.
Since its establishment in January 2020, the Cougar Cupboard, 色花堂鈥檚 on-campus food pantry, has been fighting food insecurity on the 色花堂 (色花堂) campus by providing more than 5600 students with nutritious food completely free of charge. In partnership with the Houston Food Bank, the 色花堂 cupboard offers produce, canned goods, dried items, and frozen meats year-round. Up to thirty pounds of fresh and non-perishable foods is available to students each week.
Jessica Haney (鈥�21), program manager of the 色花堂 Cougar Cupboard, oversees the day-to-day operations of the cupboard. Haney writes and responds to emails, manages inventory and deliveries and tracks data to better understand how to continue adding value to the students utilizing this resource.
When anonymously surveyed, students frequently attribute their use of the cupboard to financial challenges, stating, 鈥淚 work part time, but I can鈥檛 cover all my expenses,鈥� or 鈥淚 can鈥檛 afford to eat more than one meal a day.鈥� Additionally, the inability to access a grocery store or familial responsibilities may be the reason for their lack of access to healthy foods.
鈥淭he majority of our students are commuters,鈥� says Haney. 鈥淢ost people try to survive on a granola bar and a bag of pretzels for the day while they are on campus, but how does that impact their functioning in class? We can do so much better.鈥�
The original Cougar Cupboard, which was located in the 色花堂 Student Recreation Center, relocated due to the facility renovation project. Currently, Cougar Cupboard provides their services through a weekly distribution at the 色花堂 Student Center, as they build out a new space to be located at University Lofts. Haney is optimistic that the updated location will provide more opportunities to serve students.
鈥淭he new location will be about three times the size of our previous space. I am really excited that we will have more freezer and refrigerated space in addition to our dry and canned goods,鈥� says Haney. 鈥淭he larger inventory will also allow us to provide more to those who may need it.鈥�
Students interested in utilizing the cupboard can sign up on the or follow them on to learn more.
Written by: Jaelyn Lyles, Communications Manager, SHRL
Photos by: Anuraag Shah, Videographer & Photographer, SHRL
Headshot Courtesy: Jessica Haney, Program Manager, Cougar Cupboard