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Huskie Harvest was established with a clear mission: to feed hungry Huskies. The concept is simple - quality food left over from catered campus events is recovered and redistributed to students experiencing food insecurity, rather than discarded and contributing to landfill waste.
Food insecurity is a significant issue, affecting 30% of college students nationwide; this number increases to 35% in the Midwest. This issue disproportionately impacts students of color, who make up 70% of the NIU freshman class (2023), as well as first-generation students, who constitute 52% of the NIU student body.
Adequate nutrition is essential for students to perform well academically and it is crucial for overall health, including mental health. Both health and education suffer when students must decide between buying books or buying food; going to class or picking up another shift at work to make ends meet.
Huskie Harvest aims to improve the nutritional quality of students' diets by providing access to free, sustainable meals. Since its start in 2023, the program has successfully recovered almost 7,000 pounds of food, equaling more than 7,500 frozen meals and side dishes for students to enjoy.
The program has made significant strides, but the need remains great. We expanded to offer meals during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks for students who cannot return home. Additionally, a freezer was purchased by the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) for the student lounge space. The goal is to have freezers in college buildings all over campus, bringing food to students and reducing the stigma of food insecurity.
Your support is vital to the continued success of Huskie Harvest. Contributions will be used to purchase an additional freezer and to assist in the coordination of volunteers for food recovery and expanded distribution efforts. Together, we can ensure that no Huskie goes hungry.
Every snack keeps hunger at bay and a student going strong for their studies.
Help provide full, balanced meals to students who need it most, energizing them for success.
Help fuel a student for an entire day of classes, homework, and success with healthy meals to keep them energized.
Provide support to students ensuring they can focus on their studies, not their hunger.
Your donation helps fuel academic success by providing substantial food assistance to multiple students in need.
Fill the plates of hungry Huskies with enough meals to keep them well-fed and ready to succeed all semester long.
Lead the fight against campus food insecurity by funding resources that make a lasting impact, sustaining students throughout their academic journey.
