Moravian University will receive nearly $20,000 in state funding to expand its Mo’s Cupboard program, which provides food, personal care items, and other resources to students in need.
The University received the grant from PA Hunger-Free Campus, a statewide initiative to combat food insecurity and reduce hunger on college campuses.
In his inaugural budget, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro advocated for $1 million to be allocated to postsecondary institutions’ efforts in addressing student food insecurity. Awards were announced and dispersed to institutions over the month of January. Since Moravian has fewer than 3,000 students, the Department of Education dedicated $20,000 to support the University’s low-income students.
Mo’s Cupboard will use this grant to create two satellite locations: one on the South (Priscilla Payne Hurd) campus and one at the school’s Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center (SMRC). The new locations will increase student access to fresh and nonperishable food items, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.
Greg Meyer, the dean for Community Wellness at Moravian University, emphasized the direct impact on students in need on the campus.
“We recognize that there are many students who spend the majority of their time on our South Campus and want to make sure they are able to access the resources Mo’s Cupboard provides,” he said.
Mo’s Cupboard was founded in 2018 after the administration recognized that hunger was a prevalent issue on campus. Undergraduate, seminary, and graduate students are eligible to use the Cupboard, which is now temporarily located in PPHAC 118; all students need to do is swipe their student ID to access the room. The Student Life team stocks Mo’s Cupboard and makes sure that ID swipes are just to measure the need and usage of the supplies. The identities of those who access the Cupboard remain private.
“The bulk of the funding will be spent on outfitting these spaces by purchasing and installing card readers on each door, a new refrigerator for each space, shelving for the South Campus location, and hand trucks to assist with product delivery,” Meyer said.
The Student Life team applied for the grant to open two satellite locations, but additional funds may be used for student staff to deliver items and monitor inventory, as well as funding reusable grocery bags for student use and marketing materials.
Approximately 30% of college students experience food insecurity at one point throughout their college experience, which has been shown to decrease the likelihood of their academic success. Studies have shown that food-insecure students averaged a GPA of 3.33 out of 4.0, while food-secure students averaged a 3.51. In addition, those experiencing food insecurity, especially those who are first-generation college students, are less likely to finish their education than those who are not experiencing food insecurity.
Mo’s Cupboard provides much more than food and toiletries to students. Low-income seniors may be eligible for commencement regalia, and other students may qualify for more specific financial support; reach out to [email protected] if interested in these resources.
Mo’s Cupboard has multiple community partners that help make this support possible, including the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley, located in Nazareth.
Following the renovations of the Haupert Union Building, there will be a new and improved space for Mo’s Cupboard in the new student union space.
