Subject Guides

The Sustainability Hub

The Binghamton University Libraries, in partnership with the Multicultural Resource Center co-hosted the Bearcat Food Drive from Monday, February 1st to Friday, March 12th 2021 in order to increase awareness of climate change’s effects on food security and collect food donations for the campus Food Pantry! You can see the social media posts below and it is never too late to donate to the food pantry! Food Pantry Home Page.

Flyer for the Bearcat food drive mentioning that food can be brought to the MRC or to any of the University library branches from Feb 1st through March 12th.

The Social Media Posts

We shared our Instagram posts here after they went live. You can see them all at:

bingulibraries & mrcbinghamton  bingulibraries & MRCBinghamton  

BinghamtonUnivLibraries & MRCBinghamton 

Week 1: February 1st
Post #1: Introducing the Bearcat Food Drive!

The Multicultural Resource Center & Binghamton University Libraries are excited to announce the Bearcat Food Drive from February 1st - March 12, 2021. This food drive seeks to increase awareness of climate change's effects on food security while also collecting food donations for the campus Food Pantry!

Links

 
Post #2: Food Waste

Almost 40% of all food that is produced in the U.S. goes uneaten, according to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). College campuses are also a major contributor to food waste: of the 130 million pounds of food that go wasted in the U.S., 22 million pounds can be attributed to colleges and universities, with the average student throwing away about 142 pounds of food per year. 

Links

Week 2: February 8th
Food Insecurity & College Students

What is food insecurity? The SUNY May 2020 #RealCollege Survey report from the Hope Center defines food insecurity as “the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner. The most extreme form is often accompanied by physiological sensations of hunger.” For more information, check out the Instagram posts and links below:

Links

Week 3: February 15th
COVID and its Impact on Students & Food Insecurity

In May 2020, a #RealCollege survey collected data from 38k+ college students across 54 university in 26 states to see how their wellness and basic needs security had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that nearly 3 in 5 students were experiencing some kind of basic needs insecurity, including 38% of students at 4-year institutions reporting food insecurity and 15% reporting that they were experiencing homelessness due to COVID. See below for resources that can help provide students with basic needs support, including websites like the COVID College Support and the Surviving COVID Student Guide.

Links

Week 4: February 22th
SNAP: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a federal nutrition benefit program that helps provide individuals who qualify with monthly credit to buy food at various local groceries and markets. It works like a debit card, where funds are automatically loaded onto a card that can be used at stores to purchase food.

In New York, students that are within the ages of 18-49, enrolled at least half-time at an higher education institution, meet the qualifying household income (link below), and are enrolled at a SUNY school, are eligible for SNAP.

There are several amazing resources available that provide more information about SNAP and how to apply in New York State, such as The College SNAP Program, The Department of Social Services in Broome County, and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Links to these resources and more can be found below.

Links

Week 5: March 1st
Post #1: Finding Food in Food-Insecure Times

Food insecurity is a serious issue affecting over 10% of US households. See the links below for local resources that provide food support. If you are able to, you can also help by donating as part of our Bearcat Food Drive by bringing donations to any university library location or the Multicultural Resource Center between February 1st and March 12th, 2021. You can also make monetary donations online at http://bit.ly/bearcatfood.

Links

 
POST #2: Growing Food at Home

Earlier this week we talked about food insecurity and local assistance. Today we’re talking about growing food at home which can help provide you with low cost healthy food while improving your mental health and help with food sustainability. 

Links

Week 6: March 8th
Post #1: Climate Change and Food Insecurity: Globally

Climate change is having, and will have, a significant impact on the world’s food security. While some climate changes will expand growing seasons in some areas, there will likely be greater negative effects due to climate change. To learn more information on climate change and it's impact on food insecurity on a global scale, check out our Instagram post and links below.

Links

 
POST #2: Climate Change and Food Insecurity: Locally

Climate change also has a significant impact on our local food security. To learn more information on climate change and it's impact on food insecurity on a global scale, check out our Instagram post and links below. Don't forget that this is the last week of our Bear Cat Food Drive!

Links