Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — DECEMBER 2, 2024) Empire State University’s virtual food pantry, a resource for students struggling with food insecurity, continues to be a crucial resource for students and their families. Since its inception in January, the virtual food pantry has served over 448 people, including 149 students and their families. Overall, the virtual food pantry and Basic Needs at Empire State University have donated $34,692 in groceries.  

“Students have reported that using the virtual food pantry alleviated stress and anxiety, and allowed them to feed themselves and their families,” Libby Tsibulsky, director of health and wellness programs, said.  

Students can utilize the virtual food pantry once per term by completing the online application. Once approved, they are sent an email detailing how much grocery money they have been allotted, and Basic Needs works to coordinate an order that is brought directly to their homes.  

“This amount varies based on the number of individuals living in the home and cost of living considerations,” Tsibulsky said. “Students can then create and share a cart from Walmart, Amazon Fresh, or similar. Basic Needs then coordinates a time for the groceries to be delivered and places the student’s order. A shopper delivers the items straight to the student’s home.”  

Tsibulsky said food insecurity is a major concern among college students, even those who are pursuing non-traditional online education.  

“I recently learned that a financial strain as small as $500 can prevent a student from continuing their educational journey,” Tsibulsky said. “Every SUNY campus is now part of a pantry coordination group, where we collaborate and exchange ideas on how to alleviate the emotional and financial burdens caused by food insecurity. While we may not have a physical campus, our students face many of the same challenges as their peers at traditional institutions.” 

Tsibulsky said nutrition is crucial to student success and a lack of proper resources can inhibit students’ ability to complete their degrees.  

“Without proper nutrition, students may fall behind in their studies,” Tsibulsky said. “Our goal is to bridge the gap caused by unexpected life circumstances, ensuring our students can graduate and use their degrees to enhance their lives and contribute to the well-being of others.”  

Tsibulsky said Empire State University is continually working to improve the support provided to students. Most recently, Tsibulsky said the university welcomed a dedicated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Coordinator to guide students through the application and recertification processes.  

“Our office offers a range of valuable resources, including one-time emergency grants, free tele-counseling services, and a comprehensive state and federal benefits screener,” Tsibulsky said.