Food Security is having access to sufficient nutritious and healthy food while food insecurity is the lack of sufficient nutritious and healthy food. Newly gathered information from a recent UC Merced student basic needs report which compiled data from multiple surveys on campus including UCUES, the Graduate Student Well-being Survey, and the Student Food Access and Security Survey stated that 57% of UC Merced students suffer from Food Insecurity. Being food insecure indicates one is skipping one or more meals a day. Having little to no food daily has a significant effect on the students, physical, emotional/mental state and the ability of perform well academically. With the growing number of people suffering from food insecurity, the Basic Needs Security team is committed to providing resources and programs to help students be food secured.
