1. Practical Applications
Falcon Care Program: an Effort to End Food Insecurity at BGSU
Meredith Barger and Alyssa Davidson │Capstone Project │BGSU
Introduction
Experience & Research
Summary
Food insecurity is the inability to obtain a sufficient amount of food that is nutritionally adequate and safe for consumption.1 This can be characterized by experiencing hunger due to lack of food, reducing the size of or skipping meals regularly, poor-quality diet, and lack of resources and access to nutrient-dense foods.2 Reports indicate that 14% of all U.S. households and 49 million people are considered food insecure.1 Over the years, the presence of financial hardship has risen among college students contributing to strained budgets. Federal aid and federal loans assist economically insecure individuals enrolled in college;3,4 however, the cost of attendance remains unaffordable, even for some students of middle class families. This is in part related to loan policies, the amount and duration of aid, accruing interest,4 and a decline in government subsidies. In an effort to help, the American government has given out almost 10 million Pell Grants.3 Students who need assistance often parallel those who are food insecure.
Food insecure students on college campuses:
21% University of Hawaii at Manoa5
35% at Illinois University6
59% at the University of Oregon4
Falcon Care is a food assistance program for BGSU students that is driven by student based donations. The program is led by BGSU Dining in concurrence with the Office of the Dean of Students, Counseling Center, Falcon Health Center, Undergraduate Student Government, and Residence Life. Students experiencing financial hardships will receive a card containing 5 swipes for temporary support.
Fellow students with meal plans may donate up to one swipe per week
Donations are accepted at the Oaks or Carillon Place
Food insecurity remains on the rise despite the efforts enforced to reduce its presence and negative effects. It has become quite common for college students to experience food insecurity at some point throughout their education. While the number of food insecure college students continues to grow, Falcon Care is just one of the
many acts making progress to reduce food insecurity.
Falcon Care Research Outcomes:
Lack of communication
Lack of awareness
Need for increased promotion
Need for student outreach
Food Insecurity
Poor Nutrition
Chronic Disease
1. Pre-Research: September 14, 2016
Expand Your Horizon Fair at BGSU
Informed students on food insecurity
Tips to eat more for less
5 ingredients or less recipes
PUSH Initiative
Falcon Care
2. Develop a strategic plan: September 16, 2016
Conference with the Dean of Students and head of Dining Services
Purpose of Falcon Care
Food insecurity at BGSU
Actions to take
Promotion
3. Create promotional material: October 13, 2016
Flyer design
Aimed towards students on campus
Encourage swipe donations
Increase awareness
4. Distribution: October 24, 2016
9 Residence Halls at BGSU
Practical Applications
Food insecurity is an ongoing, pandemic issue despite the efforts being made to reduce its’ prevalence. Low-income families and individuals could benefit from educational resources teaching them how to budget their income.
Buy whole foods
(fruits, vegetables,
and meat)
Buy foods that
are in season
Check the unit
price
Join rewards and
loyalty program
Read sales flyers
and use coupons
Research
Food insecurity can negatively impact academic performance, mental and social health, dietary choices, and overall health status for many individuals. Food assistance programs, such as SNAP, are available to low-income individuals. Sadly, the majority of food insecure college students do not qualify for government assistance programs.7
Causes 3
Rising cost of tuition, meal plans, books, student housing, etc.
Lack of financial management skills
Lack of food management and cooking skills
Low income jobs paying less than $15,000 per year
Great Recession
Effects 3
Inadequate intake of key nutrients 
Poor physical and mental health
Depression and Anxiety 
Overweight and weight gain 
Adverse health outcomes 
Behavioral problems 
Lower educational achievement
Solutions
Campus swipe banks for those in need
Free dining hall meal plans for financially eligible
Financial management classes
Referrals to SNAP, food stamp programs, etc.
Community gardens and food pantries on campus
Reducing food insecurity on college campuses:
Community
Gardens
Food Pantries
Farmers Markets
188 Flyers
1 per RA
2 per hall floor
1,440 Handouts:
Equally distributed among RA’s and halls