One major goal of the ASCSU Office of Health is to enhance current and explore future initiatives aimed at putting an end to Food Insecurity among rams. According to a CSU survey conducted in the Fall of 2013, approximately 10% of students at Colorado State University experience food insecurity, broadly defined as “the state of being without reliable access to sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.” Indicators of food insecurity include skipping meals due to lack of financial resources, cutting the size of meals due to lack of financial resources, experiencing hunger but not eating, the inability to afford balanced meals, and/or running out of food at the end of a pay period.

Through our close relationship with the Rams Against Hunger Programs, the Office of Health and other ASCSU members are working diligently to stock and manage the pocket pantry locations on campus, sustain the impact of the monthly Mobile Food Pantry with the Food Bank of Larimer County, and expand the Ram Food Recovery text alert service. The presence of these programs on campus has already made an impact on providing relief to students in need. Additionally, we are excited to be working on establishing a community garden in partnership with the College of Agricultural Sciences to encourage students to engage in the cultivation of crops and then use the food produced in our existing hunger-relief programs such as the pocket pantries. These unified campus efforts to combat food insecurity in our community are a true testament to the strength, compassion, and dedication of Colorado State University to uphold the tradition of rams taking care of rams.