Swipe Out Hunger

Swipe Out Hunger is a nonprofit organization in the United States, dedicated to addressing and eradicating hunger among college students across North America. Founded in 2010 by a group of university students, it has become a leading force in the movement to ensure that students have access to food without having to compromise their educational pursuits.

Mission

The mission of Swipe Out Hunger is to empower a movement to end college student hunger. It achieves this through several key strategies:

• On-Campus Food Access: The organization promotes practical solutions such as meal swipe donation programs and campus food pantries. These initiatives allow students with extra meal swipes to donate them to peers in need, thereby ensuring that more students have reliable access to meals[1][2].

• Advocacy and Policy Support: Swipe Out Hunger works with state legislators and community leaders to advocate for policies that enhance food security for college students. This includes efforts to make government assistance programs like SNAP more accessible to students[2].

• Narrative Change: By amplifying the voices of affected students, Swipe Out Hunger aims to shift public perceptions of student hunger, making it a national priority rather than a hidden issue[2].

Impact

Since its inception, Swipe Out Hunger has made significant strides in combating student hunger:

• Meal Provision: The organization has enabled more than 20.5 million meals across over 850 campuses in North America[3][4].
• Campus Engagement: It has involved hundreds of thousands of students through its programs, ensuring that a substantial number of students have reliable access to food during their college years[4].
• Infrastructure Support: Swipe Out Hunger has provided over 100 fridges to campuses, enhancing the storage capacity of campus food banks and pantries[4].

Partnerships and Initiatives

Swipe Out Hunger collaborates with a wide array of partners, including colleges, universities, and corporate entities like TIAA. These partnerships focus on addressing specific needs within the college community, such as supporting first-generation students who are disproportionately affected by food insecurity[3].

Challenges and Context

Student hunger is a pervasive issue, with one in three students in the U.S. facing food insecurity. This not only affects their academic performance but also their overall well-being and participation in campus life[2]. By addressing these challenges, Swipe Out Hunger seeks to create an environment where education is accessible without the added burden of hunger.

Conclusion

Swipe Out Hunger serves as a model for innovative and collaborative approaches to solving student hunger. Through its comprehensive strategies, partnerships, and advocacy efforts, the organization continues to push for a future where no student has to choose between food and their education.