The annual Governor’s State Employees Food Drive is a time to spread awareness about food insecurity across Oregon, but University of Oregon employees may not know of year-round efforts across campus focused on helping UO students.

In 2021, the food drive steering committee collaborated with a campus food security task force to create a guide to aid faculty and staff members in connecting food-insecure students with resources, whether they work directly with students or not. Among the suggestions are to add to course syllabi a link to the Dean of Students’ food resources website, inform work-study students about eligibility for SNAP, previously known as food stamps, and make the existing resources available for students part of discussions with colleagues during staff meetings.

“There are tips in the guide about how to approach a conversation about food insecurity, like creating common ground with definitions and centering the student’s experiences,” said Cami Thompson, UO assistant director of community relations and chair of the food drive. “The more employees feel comfortable talking about food insecurity, the more we can connect students with the resources they need to succeed.”

Today the Basic Needs Team in the Office of the Dean of Students handles the work of securing and providing resources to meet the varying needs of students, from food to housing and health care. Staff say food insecurity is an issue that affects UO students across all backgrounds and identities. It creates barriers, reduces performance and impedes success, they note.

“Another common misperception about student food insecurity is that it only affects undergraduate students,” said Julia Morrill, UO director of basic needs and off-campus support. “Graduate students are just as likely to be food insecure.”

Food insecurity among students can include skipping a meal, eating less at one meal to stretch it into two, reducing the amount of food they eat to a point that it is no longer fulfilling, or avoiding social situations where others may be buying or sharing food.

Many resources are available to UO students facing food insecurity, including Duck Nest/Duck Rides Grocery Shuttle, weekly Produce Drop, Grove Community Garden, and the Student Food Pantry. The Basic Needs Resources webpage has a comprehensive list of both on- and off-campus resources aimed at providing students with options.

The Governor’s State Employees Food Drive runs Feb. 1 to 28. For more information, see your department’s food drive site coordinator. If you aren’t sure who that is, email fooddrive@uoregon.edu to get connected.