Many students at the University of Colorado (CU) are experiencing food insecurity and other basic needs challenges, a situation that has been made worse by recent interruptions to SNAP benefits and increased demand during the holiday season. In response, CU donors and university leadership have launched new efforts to support food pantries and essential-needs programs across all four CU campuses.
A fundraising campaign called “Food Fight” began in November, encouraging donations to fill food pantries at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and CU Denver. As of mid-November, more than $60,000 had been raised for Clyde’s Cupboard at UCCS and the CU Denver food pantry. The campaign aims to help ensure students have access to nutritious meals and other necessities.
Donors supporting CU Boulder are contributing to the campus’s Basic Needs Center, which provides both food and housing assistance. At CU Anschutz, contributions go toward the Student Support Fund, which helps stock the campus’s food pantry and offers aid for students facing unexpected hardships or emergencies.
CU President Todd Saliman is matching up to $100,000 in donor gifts—split equally among all campuses—and the CU Foundation is providing an additional $100,000 match. Chancellors Justin Schwartz (CU Boulder), Jennifer Sobanet (CU Denver), Kenneth Christensen (UCCS), and Don Elliman (CU Anschutz) have also contributed or pledged matches up to $50,000 each on their respective campuses.
“CU students shouldn’t have to face this painful question: Can I afford to eat today?” said a statement from university leadership.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, about one-quarter of undergraduate students nationwide lack reliable access to food. Research from the National Institutes of Health shows that these students are more likely not only to leave school without graduating but also tend to have lower GPAs compared with their peers who do not experience food insecurity.
The university encourages those interested in helping students in need to contribute through its emergency funds or by learning more about specific campus resources such as Buff Pantry at CU Boulder, Clyde’s Cupboard at UCCS, Milo’s Market at CU Denver, or the Food Pantry at CU Anschutz.
