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DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — Data shows food insecurity continues to affect college students across the country, an issue heightened by the federal government shutdown.
A Government Accountability Office report estimates over 3 million students were eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, long before this recent shutdown. But many students reported not receiving those benefits.
The Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey released in 2025, fielded between spring 2023 and summer 2024, found 59% of students nationwide experience at least one form of basic-needs insecurity, connected to food or housing.
Identifying which students are impacted by the reduction in SNAP funding can be difficult task for some higher education institutions.
A North Carolina community college has taken steps to raise awareness about services and resources, so students can focus on academics and not their next meal.
Davidson-Davie Community College’s vice president of student affairs Keisha Jones is supporting staff and faculty with helping nearly 4,700 students flourish along their academic journey.
Jones notified employees on Oct. 30 about the potential SNAP funding stoppage and possible effects it could have on students.
Jones said the message was meant to raise awareness about resources in place to support students, like the food pantry, so their academic pursuits would continue uninterrupted.
“Something like SNAP benefits being taken away from certain people, it could impact the way they show up in the classroom,” Jones said. “Helping faculty and staff really think about signs I should be looking for that [a] student may be in distress, what are resources I can notify my entire class about [and] not singling anyone out. We provide a lot of resources to our students that they are aware or not aware of.”
“Ways the faculty and staff could potentially donate through the foundation if they wanted to add to what we already have. We also connect students to community resources [like] additional food pantries to get support from,” Jones said.
That guidance has helped instructors better respond to students’ needs.
Assistant professor of mathematics Kevin Eagan said the college’s leadership has encouraged flexibility and awareness as students navigate uncertainty of the shutdown.
“It helped me feel supported to support them,” Eagan said. “Sometimes, you feel like you don’t really know what to say to a student, but not the case here.”
Eagan said that simply offering understanding during a tough time can make a difference for a student.
“I’ve noticed a couple of things and try to be really flexible as an instructor and understanding,” Eagan said. “Our students, they’re so hard-working, I know sometimes just to give them a little bit of flexibility is all they’re going to need and give them support so they can succeed.”
For weeks, student volunteers at Davidson-Davie have been stocking shelves at the Storm Food Pantry as more learners turn to it for help during the shutdown.
“We are stocked up for any student to come and utilize if they are in need,” said Katrina Prickett, a student and pantry volunteer. “We service students daily. Me going through this myself, I can relate to the disadvantages people may be going through right now.”
The food pantry served nearly 500 students in 2024, double the previous year’s total.
Staff said they’re on pace for another record season, as more students turn to the pantry for help.
“We have seen a tremendous increase in student use of the food pantry since the government shutdown and lack of SNAP benefits,” said Lynne Watts, director of student life and leadership at Davidson-Davie. “I understand there may be some partial benefits coming this month, however, some food is not nearly enough food, especially when college students are left to decide between finding their next meal and studying for an exam.”
“Food should not be a luxury and today, sadly, many college students are in a position where that’s exactly what their reality is,” Watts said.
Prickett said for her, the college has become a trusted, reliable resource for students trying to overcome so much.
“Once I notified staff here at the school that I had [something] going on, they sprung into action to connect me to those resources,” Prickett said. “Coming from someone that has little to no support already, I fit right in here. They have felt like my family.”
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Jennifer Roberts
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