College Hunger Lobby Day

April 5, 2023

Franklin Cummings Tech Director of Student Wellness and Support Emma Michalowski recently joined over 60 students, legislators, and advocates at the Massachusetts State House for a student-led lobby day around the often-overlooked issue of college hunger.

This event led by the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Coalition dovetailed perfectly with ongoing efforts by Emma and her team to support Franklin Cummings Tech students by creating an on-campus food pantry, coordinating a $96K DHE Hunger Free College Campus grant to distribute ready-made dinners and food vouchers, planning Thanksgiving food drives, and so much more!

During the State House program, speakers shared personal experiences and called for prioritization of the urgent issue alongside legislative action. The program called for the passing of An Act Establishing the MA Hunger-Free Campus Initiative (S.835 / H.1293), which would fund hunger relief solutions and resources across college campuses including food pantries, educational resources around SNAP and provide a single point of contact for hunger needs on campuses. The coalition and MASSPIRG students are seeking additional funding in the FY24 state budget—$4 million—towards the Hunger Free Campus Initiative.

Following the speaking program, student representatives met with legislators for lobby meetings around the coalition’s priorities and advancing solutions for college hunger.

The Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Coalition assembles over 40 colleges, students, advocates and anti-poverty organizations to dismantle barriers to healthy, consistent meals for students. Co-led by The Greater Boston Food Bank, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and the Mass Law Reform Institute, the coalition promotes food access through awareness and advocacy, and connects students facing food insecurity with federal assistance programs and other resources. MASSPIRG Students represent colleges across the state, organizing students around issues of public health, climate change and democracy.