As summer approaches, Western Washington University will start to lose students to summer break. The students who stay face fewer healthy meal options. Students who struggle year-round may face additional hardships during the summer.
Campus markets and chain food places will close down for the summer, and dining halls will have reduced hours of operation. This leaves students with fewer healthy and dependable options.
For those staying in Bellingham, food resources such as the Western Hub of Living Essentials (WHOLE) and the Bellingham Food Bank are essential. These resources offer support for hundreds of students who stay at Western for the summer due to their jobs, classes or graduation requirements.
The WHOLE pantry will rely more on food donations. Gina Ebbeling, a Basic Needs Resource navigator, said the pantry will accept more donations of fresh foods and will be abundant.
“We’re going to rely more on the donations we get,” Ebbeling said. “We get some great produce in the summer.”
According to a Western survey, 45.4% of students experience food insecurity. Kyah Trotter, a second-year student, said food has become expensive and notices she is not getting the nutrients she needs.
“I don’t have a lot of fruits and vegetables, and so I end up eating, I would say, only two meals a day,” Trotter said.
On top of this, many students lack knowledge of where, when and how to get food from the pantry. India Wright, a fourth-year student, said the pantry is a helpful resource, but there are some disadvantages with the program.
“They’re a really good resource, but when they’re stocked, they run out of food the same day,” Wright said. “Not everyone that could use it knows of all the places to get food.”
To combat some of these resource gaps, the Basic Needs Hub will be offered drop-in hours on June 3 from 2-5 p.m. for students needing food assistance. Staff l guided students through the process of applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other assistance programs.
There are plenty of other resources at students’ disposal that can be used year-round. Bellingham Food Bank offers a free grocery program, a drive-through program and a home delivery program open to everyone in the community. Food can be picked up on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-6 p.m.
Stephanie Sisson, Bellingham Food Bank communications & outreach coordinator, said everyone should use the resources, even those who think they do not need them.
“Sit back and take a look at what you eat in a day, a week, a month. Ask yourself if that’s consistent. Is that nutritious?” said Sisson. “Would saving a few hundred dollars a month be important to me…if that amount of money would make a difference to your life, it probably means that you need that support.”
Jaimee Wacker (she/her) is a campus life reporter for The Front. She is a visual journalism major. Outside of The Front, she can be found making videos and interacting with the many ethnic student clubs here at Western. You can reach her at jaimee.thefront@gmail.com.
