Campus News
By Hannah Wolke, Newswire Intern
Last week, Auxiliary Services and Care Management relaunched the Musketeer Meal Share Program to combat food insecurity among students who struggle to afford meals.
The program allows those with meal plans to donate unused swipes, while students facing food challenges can request up to three meals per semester.
“This part of the initiative embodies Cura Personales, the care and responsibility for the well-being of the broader community, by fostering a culture where students care for one another in meaningful ways,” Associate Director of Business Systems & Operations in Auxiliary Services Jennifer Paiotti said.
Due to the new Musketeer Meal Share Program, students can now donate unused meal swipes, allowing more students the opportunity to eat at Hoff Dining Hall.
“Xavier is one of many collegiate institutions that have a meal share program on campus. The program allows students with meal plans to donate meal swipes to a fellow Musketeer. This initiative helps further address student food insecurity on our campus, which is a very real issue,” Assistant Director of Care Management Services Ashley Henkes said. “Food is often the last expense students prioritize when they have tuition and fees, housing, bills, etc. So, it’s important for our campus community to not only be aware of the issue but to take action to support our students who are in need.”
The Meal Share Program was inspired by the pressing issue of food insecurity, which affects students across campuses nationwide, including here at Xavier,” Paiotti said.
Last year, almost 600 Xavier students utilized The Store, Xavier’s on-campus food pantry, marking the need for ongoing efforts to address food insecurity within the student community.
“While Xavier already has resources like the food pantry, we realized that some students might prefer a more anonymous and accessible way to receive help,” Paiotti said.
Located in the Village Yard and open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., The Store provides free access to food and hygiene products.
Director of Auxiliary Services in the Division of Financial Administration Bill Moran shared his thoughts on the supposedly new program.
“The Meal Share Program is not new. We actually piloted it with success last year and are proud to relaunch it for a full year of service to our students. Jennifer Paiotti was integral to tying in the technology for this program into our mobile ordering app,” Moran said.
“My hope is that all students are aware that this initiative exists, so whether they have a swipe to give or would like to redeem a donated swipe, they know how to do so. Our hope is that if a student needs more consistent access to food, our office can connect with them one-on-one to discuss their specific needs and provide additional resources to meet their needs so that they can thrive at Xavier,” Henkes said.
