Najim Pledges $1.25 Million to Combat Food Insecurity at UTSA: A Game-Changer for Students in Need!

Local organizations fighting food insecurity, particularly for college students, received a significant boost thanks to a $1.25 million donation from philanthropist Harvey Najim.

This announcement was made at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) campus, where officials from the Najim Charitable Foundation and the San Antonio Food Bank were present. The donation includes $125,000 annually for the next 10 years, aimed at supporting the fight against hunger.

The San Antonio Food Bank delivers millions of pounds of food to over 500 organizations in Southwestern Texas, including several local colleges. Students can access food through on-campus pantries or pop-up markets.

Najim, along with Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the food bank, emphasized that food access should not hinder students from achieving their educational goals. “I know the food bank will maximize my impact with their efficiencies, creating a learning environment where all UTSA students have enough food to thrive and graduate,” Najim stated.

Food insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as not having consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. A study from Feeding America found that 20% to 50% of college students in the U.S. face food insecurity, compared to just 10.4% of the general population. The issue is particularly severe for African American and Indigenous students, with higher rates reported.

To combat this, UTSA opened the Roadrunner Pantry in March 2017 and another pantry on its downtown campus in February 2020. Any UTSA student with a valid ID can shop there for free. The pantries collectively see an average of 200 visits daily and around 20,000 annual visits, helping many students access essential food items.

LaTonya Robinson, a senior vice provost at UTSA, highlights the importance of staple foods for students’ academic success, stating that having enough to eat allows students to focus better on their studies. Aydan Villarreal, president of the UTSA Student Government Association, expressed gratitude for Najim’s support, emphasizing its importance in addressing student hunger.

Other local colleges are making similar strides. Texas A&M University-San Antonio operates the General’s Store, available to students, faculty, and staff. In 2024, the pantry had around 2,000 visits, providing over 10,000 pounds of food, along with free monthly nutrition courses to support students’ well-being.

The University of the Incarnate Word’s pantry, Cardinals’ Cupboard, has also served many, with around 768 visitors reported last fall. Ricardo Gonzalez, director of the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability, noted that food insecurity has significantly affected their student body.

In addition to food pantries, the Alamo Colleges District has facilitated 66 pop-up food distribution events, serving nearly 20,000 students with almost 78,000 pounds of food. The district also offers benefits assistance to help eligible students access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Through these efforts, local colleges are addressing the pressing issue of food insecurity, ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed academically and personally.

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