Atlantic Cape Receives $37,500 in Hunger-Free Campus Grant Funding to Combat College Student Food Insecurities

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College received a $37,500 grant from the State of New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education’s (OSHE) Hunger-Free Campus Act aimed at addressing student food inadequacies and insecurity on college campuses.

Atlantic Cape was among 34 institutions of higher education from across the state to share in the $1.2 million in funding made available this year following a 150 percent increase in the number of program applications received by the OSHE. This year’s competitive grant cycle reflects the urgent need to provide resources for students facing food insecurity statewide.

This funding will enable Atlantic Cape’s Food Pantry, located at all three campus locations in Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May Court House, to expand its offerings for its students in need.

“The impact of this grant on our students is life changing. The funds will provide an opportunity for large scale food purchases that we would otherwise not be able to afford. They will also provide fresh fruits and vegetables and other more expensive healthier options for our students,” said Nancy Porfido, Atlantic Cape’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advocate, Judicial Officer, and Title IX Coordinator. “In addition, the grant enables us to provide food vouchers for our most in-need students. The funding from this grant  keeps the doors open to our three campus food pantries. Their goal is to provide every Atlantic Cape student who is hungry, access to food on campus and this grant allows us to do that.”

The Hunger-Free Campus grants reaffirm New Jersey’s unwavering commitment to making college more affordable, empowering student success, and creating safe, supportive, and inclusive campus communities across the state.

“The Hunger-Free Campus grants reflect New Jersey’s continued commitment to supporting students and fighting hunger,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “We want every college student to have the support they need to reach their full potential, and addressing food insecurity is essential to achieving that goal. I am proud of New Jersey’s leadership in creating a model that serves our diverse campuses and builds on the foundation laid by New Jersey’s Hunger-Free Campus Act.”

To maximize the impact and reach of available funding, OSHE employed an equity-focused distribution model to support all 34 institutions that met the Hunger-Free Campus designation requirements under the Hunger-Free Campus Act (P.L. 2019, C.89). Funding was awarded across three tiers, taking into account each institution's unique efforts to address student hunger, implement sustainable solutions, raise awareness of available resources, and connect students with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other initiatives.

“Food insecurity is a reality for far too many students all across New Jersey and it is an issue that, with the help of state leaders like Speaker Coughlin, the Murphy Administration has been determined to address,” said Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges. “We know college students facing food insecurity are significantly less likely to graduate than their food-secure peers. By ensuring the availability of resources for students attending our state’s institutions, we are working so that hunger is never a barrier to their success.”

Visit atlanticcape.edu/foodpantry for more information.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.