Annual Report 2019-2020
Tackling Food Insecurity
In the left photo, students select food items in the Nutrition Lounge. In the right photo, Jason Bullock (left), Food Lion's director of operations, presents to Bowie State President Aminta H. Breaux (right) a $10,000 donation to fight college hunger.
Food Insecurity Has an On-Campus Solution
A commuter student approached Dr. Rita Wutoh, director of Bowie State’s Henry Wise Wellness Center, with a need that ultimately inspired a vital resource. Because the young woman lived off campus, she didn’t have access to a microwave during the day and needed a quiet spot to decompress, heat up her food at lunch and fit in some studying.
At that time, no such place existed on campus. With the help of a $10,000 Food Lion Feeds grant, Dr. Wutoh worked to create the Nutrition Lounge, one of six similar spaces founded at HBCUs across the country. The project aligns with the university’s commitment to prioritize accessibility and provide holistic, full-spectrum support to help each student overcome challenges and attain individual success.
Located on the ground floor of the Thurgood Marshall Library, the Nutrition Lounge has become not only a relaxation area for the more than 80% of BSU students who commute to classes, but an opportunity to address food insecurity in the Bowie State community and surrounding areas. With an additional $10,000 from Safeway, the pantry stocks an expanding variety of free, non-perishable foods—granola bars, oatmeal and hot cereal, pasta, canned goods and crackers.
“Before we opened, a lot of students would say on a regular basis that they were just grabbing a bag of potato chips or something like that for the day. They didn't eat breakfast or lunch, and some of the formal meals for $5 or $10 were too expensive for them. So I wanted to offer other food choices,” explained Dr. Wutoh, who plans to begin offering fresh fruits and vegetables.
Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, donations from alumni, faculty, community members and other corporations have been a lifeline to students and local residents who have received food and personal care items like shampoo, deodorant and feminine hygiene products. Wutoh hopes the open comfort and availability of the Nutrition Lounge will help minimize the stigma of food insecurity and provide students with the wraparound support they need to be well and achieve their goals.
“This is a great start, but we have work to do,” she said.
Next article: Expanding Access to Education
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