I have been so fortunate to have always been financially stable in my college years, but I definitely understand that not every college student is so privileged. It’s not that I never struggled because I did everything right, it’s that I was lucky enough to have a scholarship to cover my tuition and family to fall back on when my savings wasn’t enough. Likewise, the vast majority of people going hungry in college aren’t broke because they made bad choices. Many will say that you just need to get a job, or ask your parents for help, or budget better. For many people, the support of a family isn’t available. They work hard, but all of their money goes to rent in a crappy apartment, or they can’t work if they want to succeed in their difficult classes and create a better future. If you’re going hungry and don’t know where to turn, here are some things you can actually do to get help.

1. Talk to your friends or roommates.

Everyone has vastly different circumstances, and chances are some of your friends are doing better than you and are happy to share. Many times, students have huge meal plans that literally go unused. Can they share some with you? If your roommates are all in a similar boat, can you go bulk shopping together? It’s dramatically cheaper to buy a large quantity of food and split the cost than to buy individual portions. It can be embarrassing to ask for help, but if you talk to the right people they will be happy to help. They may not be able to help, but they can stop suggesting expensive ways to hang out in favor of free options and be more sensitive now that they know your circumstances.

2. Talk to the financial aid office.

Hopefully, you’ve already filled out FAFSA and received financial aid. However, did you know that sometimes you can negotiate and adjust your financial aid? Your mileage will vary by school, of course, but some schools will have leftover scholarship money that they can still give away well into the school year. If you believe there is a mistake in your FAFSA or other financial information, they can help correct it. Even if you don’t qualify as an independent student for federal aid purposes, your school might be able to classify you as independent for their purposes and give you the appropriate grants. Again, every school is different, but the financial aid office is there to help students afford school, so it’s worth going in and explaining your situation to see if they can help.

3. Check campus resources.

Many campuses will have resources available for struggling students, such as a food bank. After all, consider how much food is in all of the dining halls on campus. Not all of that food gets eaten, so many schools will collect the uneaten food and distribute to students in need. My school collects food from dining centers as well as fresh produce from the community garden when it’s in-season and gives it away to anyway with a student id who asks. Check with your student resource center (or whatever it may be called on your campus) and see if something similar is available. If not, you might suggest it to them!

4. Look into food stamps.

If you are truly struggling, government resources were created for you and there is no shame in using them. This article about food stamps for college students is a hugely helpful resource that details whether you qualify for food stamps and how to apply if you do.

5. Find a community food bank.

Even if your campus doesn’t offer a food bank, most communities will. A quick Google search will help you find a food bank in your area and tell you exactly what you need to do to get food from them. Again, community resources like this are created for people in your situation, and they want to help you out! If you’re truly in need, don’t feel bad about asking for help!

It’s so important to be feed in order to be able to function in classes, at work, and in life in general. College is often a difficult time financially for many students, but there are resources out there to help you get through college so you can increase your earning potential and have a brighter future. Please take care of yourself and utilize the resources available to you if you need them!

How to Help 

If you’re reading this and thinking it doesn’t apply to you because you are financially stable, there are things that you can do to help your fellow students who are going hungry. Here are some great ways to get involved:

1. Don’t let your own food go to waste.

If you have a meal plan but find that you often have meals expire at the end of the week or semester, see if you can share the extra with a friend. Policies will vary by the school about “guest swipes” or transferring meal plans but it’s worth looking into. If you cook a large meal, share it with those around you! Even if they aren’t food insecure themselves, they’ll appreciate a meal spent together, and you won’t have leftovers rotting in your fridge.

2. Donate food to your campus or community food bank.

Check with your local pantry to see what items they are most in need of, and pick up an extra can or two while you’re doing your own shopping.

3. Volunteer at a food bank.

You might not have extra money to donate, but you might have extra time. On my campus, student volunteers donate their time by collecting food from the various dining operations after closing and organizing food that has been donated to the pantry. Both campus and community food banks are often completely volunteer-run and depend on volunteers like you to accomplish their mission.

Hunger on college campuses is a growing issue, but there are resources available to use if you need them and volunteer at if you can to help your fellow students. If you have more ideas about dealing with hunger on college campuses, please share them below!