Food insecurity is a concern on college campuses. At Eastern Kentucky University, One in four students are at risk. That's according to Steve Caudill, who is the university’s chief auxiliary services officer.
While EKU has programs like the Colonel's Cupboard to help out, Caudill said the school is now trying something new. The university will start accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at a provision on demand, or POD, location on campus.
Caudill said it is important to make sure the students are taken care of.
“This is a way for us to help meet those students where they are, and make sure their needs are met, we want to make sure all of our students' physical needs are met to the best of our ability and this is just another example of EKU finding a way to meet those needs.”
He said they will start is one POD location on campus, and they had to expand what is available in the location to be able to accept SNAP benefits.
“The exciting part, of what we're putting in there to be able to be eligible for SNAP is, we'll be opening up the variety of things that are offered there, because you have to have a very specific list of items to have the nutritional needs of the customers met.”
Currently, 18 schools in the Aramark system in the United States provide SNAP access, and EKU will be the first in Kentucky.
The POD location in the Stratton building on campus will start accepting SNAP benefits this fall when students return.
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