Students at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) will soon benefit from a Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) grant aimed at addressing hunger on campus. The College received an FY25 Hunger-Free Campus Grant of $17,404 to raise awareness of basic food needs, leverage sustainable solutions to meet those needs and build partnerships with community organizations relating to food insecurity.
The co-leads for the grant are Caroline King, director of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, and Derek Young, dean of students. They will work with the SMCM Hunger-Free Campus Task Force to plan programming for National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov. 17-23) and Earth Month (April 2025), and continue to support student enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as well as transportation for students to use SNAP benefits at off-campus retailers. They plan to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of the on-campus food pantry, Solomon’s Shoppe, and work with Kate Farm to provide information about and access to healthy, sustainable food options.
“We are extremely grateful for this MHEC grant, which will allow us to strengthen and expand our efforts to address campus hunger,” said King. “We hope the entire campus community will take part in upcoming programs meant to increase awareness and reduce stigma surrounding food insecurity.”
Events planned for Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week include a film screening, food donation drive to support Solomon’s Shoppe and a community pantry, and service project to prepare meals for the local unhoused population. More information can be found on InsideSMCM and the Office of Community Outreach & Engagement Facebook and Instagram pages.
