Harvest Food Pantry helps Owens students, community members facing food insecurity – BG Independent News

Owens Community College Initiative Addresses Student Basic Needs in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Food Insecurity to Support Quality Education

In Ohio, over 1.8 million people face food insecurity, a challenge that directly impacts the student body at Owens Community College. A fall 2024 survey revealed that 52% of the college’s students identify as food insecure. This condition presents a significant barrier to academic success, directly conflicting with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4: Quality Education), as students cannot focus on learning while experiencing hunger. The college’s initiatives aim to mitigate this issue, supporting both student well-being and their educational pursuits.

Program Overview: The Center for Campus and Community Connections

In response to student needs, Owens Community College established the Center for Campus and Community Connections. Originating from a community garden founded in 2011, the center has evolved into a comprehensive basic needs resource hub. Its flagship program is the Harvest Food Pantry, which was the first of its kind at a community college in Ohio. The center’s work is foundational to creating an environment where students can thrive.

Core Objectives and SDG Alignment

The Center’s operations are directly aligned with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The primary mission of the Harvest Food Pantry is to provide free and accessible food resources, including non-perishable items, meat, dairy, and fresh produce, to combat hunger within the college community.
• SDG 1: No Poverty: By offering essential resources at no cost, the center alleviates financial burdens on students. In addition to the pantry, the center operates a career closet and free stores, providing clothing for interviews and professional settings, which contributes to economic empowerment.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The program’s core principle is that meeting students’ basic needs is a prerequisite for academic achievement. By ensuring students have access to adequate nutrition, the initiative enables them to better focus on their studies and complete their education.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The center employs a low-barrier, stigma-free model. Its services are available to all individuals without financial or need-based requirements, ensuring equitable access to essential resources and removing obstacles that disproportionately affect vulnerable students.

Operational Framework and Accessibility

The Harvest Food Pantry and associated services are designed for maximum accessibility and to preserve user dignity. The operational model is characterized by the following principles:

1. Open Access: The pantry is available to any individual without restrictions based on residency, income, or frequency of visits. This policy is designed to err on the side of compassion and has not resulted in systemic misuse.
2. Stigma Reduction: No appointments are necessary, allowing individuals to access services at their convenience. Additionally, mobile food carts are placed throughout both the Perrysburg Township and Findlay-area campuses, allowing anyone to take items without interaction or questions.
3. Holistic Support: The Center for Campus and Community Connections serves as a single point of contact for various needs, including food, clothing, technology, household items, and referrals to other campus support services.

Impact and Outcomes

The program has demonstrated a significant positive impact on the college community. Since July 2025, the pantry has achieved notable milestones:

• Served nearly 1,300 individuals.
• Distributed seven and a half tons of food.

Student feedback indicates that these resources are critical for retention, with some students stating they might have dropped out without the support provided by the center.

Future Support and Development

To ensure the long-term sustainability of these vital services, the Owens Community College Foundation has designated the Harvest Food Pantry and Garden as the recipient of funds raised on Giving Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Continued community and institutional support is essential for advancing the college’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring no student’s education is compromised by a lack of basic needs.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article addresses the financial struggles of college students, describing them as “poor” and highlighting how the pantry and other resources provide for their “basic needs.”
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – This is the central theme of the article, which focuses on food insecurity among students at Owens Community College and the role of the Harvest Food Pantry in providing free food resources.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article directly links hunger to educational outcomes, stating that students “can’t focus when they’re in class and hungry” and that the pantry helps them “finish what you came here to do.”
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The pantry’s operational model aims to reduce inequality by removing barriers and stigma. It is accessible to everyone without financial requirements or restrictions, promoting inclusion for vulnerable students.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
  • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The article addresses this by providing basic needs (food, clothing) to students who are described as “poor” and struggling financially.
  • Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all… and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable. The Harvest Food Pantry, career closet, and free stores function as a localized social protection system for the vulnerable student population.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The pantry’s mission is to provide students experiencing food insecurity with free access to non-perishable items, meat, dairy, and produce.
• SDG 4: Quality Education
  • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development… The article implies that by addressing students’ basic needs like hunger, the college is creating an environment where students can learn effectively and complete their education, which is a prerequisite for achieving this target. It notes that without these resources, students “could have dropped out.”
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status. The pantry’s policy of having no financial requirements, no appointments, and no restrictions on use promotes the inclusion of all students, particularly those in vulnerable economic situations, and actively works to “remove the stigma” associated with needing help.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
  • Prevalence of food insecurity: The article explicitly states, “in a fall 2024 student financial wellness survey, 52% of students identified as food insecure.” This is a direct measurement of the problem.
  • Number of people served: The article notes that “since July 2025, the pantry has served nearly 1,300 people.” This measures the reach of the intervention.
  • Amount of food distributed: It is mentioned that “volunteers have stocked the shelves with seven and a half tons of food,” which quantifies the volume of support provided.
• For SDG 1 (No Poverty):
  • Number of beneficiaries of social protection programs: The “nearly 1,300 people” served by the pantry can be used as a proxy indicator for the number of vulnerable individuals receiving support. The usage of the career closet and free stores would also contribute to this metric.
• For SDG 4 (Quality Education):
  • Student retention/dropout rates: The article implies a link between the pantry and educational success by quoting a student who said, “There are students who could have dropped out if they didn’t know about this resource.” Therefore, tracking student retention rates could serve as an indirect indicator of the program’s impact.
• For SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
  • Proportion of people reporting feeling discriminated against: The pantry’s efforts to “remove the stigma” and make people “feel comfortable” directly address the experience of inequality. Surveys on student experience could measure progress. The policy of no restrictions ensures that access is not a point of discrimination.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bgindependentmedia.org