Portland State University Food Insecurity Solutions
Portland State University Food Insecurity Solutions
McKenzie Lester
College provides students with opportunities to expand their education and gives students
the opportunity for a high paying job in the future. College sounds great for a student's future,
but how do students afford to live while getting their education? If you look at Portland State
University’s website, the average cost of attendance for in state students is around $25,000,
and for out of state students attendance costs around $42,000. With bills students have to
worry about, and there extremely busy school schedules it is sometimes difficult or almost
impossible to get a job that will allow you to balance work and school schedules. This means
all of these stereotypes of students having to live on Ramen may be more serious of an issue
than outsiders may expect.
the opportunity for a high paying job in the future. College sounds great for a student's future,
but how do students afford to live while getting their education? If you look at Portland State
University’s website, the average cost of attendance for in state students is around $25,000,
and for out of state students attendance costs around $42,000. With bills students have to
worry about, and there extremely busy school schedules it is sometimes difficult or almost
impossible to get a job that will allow you to balance work and school schedules. This means
all of these stereotypes of students having to live on Ramen may be more serious of an issue
than outsiders may expect.
 |
| Portland State University Campus |
In the article, “Tuition or Dinner,” by Kaya Letterman, a poll was given out to over one hundred
universities and about fifty percent of these students responded saying they were food insecure
in the last thirty days (New York Times2019). This means they did not know where there meals
were coming from, they spent days hungry, or had multipole days without food. With that being
said, students are having to take out unexpected loans to pay for food or have to pick up an extra
job just to try and survive during their college career. It is obvious to believe that if students are
not worried about where they can get their next meal from, they can get a better nights sleep and
have more time to study so they can do better in school. Why this is a massive problem for
students in the United States, there are some solutions that can help students locate local food
banks, campus resources, and much more.
universities and about fifty percent of these students responded saying they were food insecure
in the last thirty days (New York Times2019). This means they did not know where there meals
were coming from, they spent days hungry, or had multipole days without food. With that being
said, students are having to take out unexpected loans to pay for food or have to pick up an extra
job just to try and survive during their college career. It is obvious to believe that if students are
not worried about where they can get their next meal from, they can get a better nights sleep and
have more time to study so they can do better in school. Why this is a massive problem for
students in the United States, there are some solutions that can help students locate local food
banks, campus resources, and much more.
There are over twenty food banks within five miles of Portland State University’s campus, but
the most convenient and simple student resource would be the Portland State University Free Food Market.
This resource is open once a month and only asks you to bring your own bags to fill and stock up
on resources for the month. Another amazing resource for students is the Portland State University Food pantry
which is open Mondays through Fridays from 12-2:30. This resource allows students to come in and
request resources they may need throughout the week. This is a way for students to get the food they
need more frequently. If you are not a current student or are not local to campus, there are also many
food banks all over Oregon that can be found through the tracker provided on the Oregon food bank website.
All of these resources are wanting to help students from worrying about where their next meal is so they
can focus on themselves and their studies. All students can succeed and it is up to us to make accessible
options for all!
the most convenient and simple student resource would be the Portland State University Free Food Market.
This resource is open once a month and only asks you to bring your own bags to fill and stock up
on resources for the month. Another amazing resource for students is the Portland State University Food pantry
which is open Mondays through Fridays from 12-2:30. This resource allows students to come in and
request resources they may need throughout the week. This is a way for students to get the food they
need more frequently. If you are not a current student or are not local to campus, there are also many
food banks all over Oregon that can be found through the tracker provided on the Oregon food bank website.
All of these resources are wanting to help students from worrying about where their next meal is so they
can focus on themselves and their studies. All students can succeed and it is up to us to make accessible
options for all!
 |
| Portland State University Harvest Festival Free Food Market |
Student Resources links:
- Portland State Food Pantry and Harvest Share: https://www.pdx.edu/insidepsu/free-food-on-campus
Sources:
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