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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Shirley De Peña, Director in the Central Office of Student Affairs at CUNY, on Food Insecurity at CUNY
2:33:11
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164 sec
Shirley De Peña, Director in the Central Office of Student Affairs at CUNY, testifies about the severe food insecurity challenges facing CUNY students and the initiatives implemented to address this issue. She highlights the significant increase in food pantry visits and urges the council to expand investment in food security programs at CUNY.
- CUNY has food pantries at 18 undergraduate colleges and two professional schools, which also provide other critical services.
- Food pantry visits increased from 46,504 in February 2023 to over 206,000 in February 2024.
- The Fresh Food Bag program provides students with fresh produce and culturally appropriate food options.
- De Peña requests continued and expanded investment of $1,125,000 for CUNY's food security programs.
Shirley De Peña
2:33:11
I submitted written testimony, I'm just going to give highlights, brief briefer highlights.
2:33:16
Good afternoon chairperson Ayala and members of the general welfare committee.
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My name is Shirley De Pena and I serve as a director in the central office of student affairs and the liaison to the campus resource centers and food pantries at CUNY.
2:33:30
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
2:33:33
I begin by expressing my sincere gratitude for your support of CUNY's food security initiatives.
2:33:38
Food insecurity is one of the most urgent challenges facing CUNY students today.
2:33:43
When students struggle to afford food, they often face increased stress, difficulty concentrating in class, and a greater likelihood of dropping out.
2:33:52
Many of our students are already balancing coursework with jobs, family responsibilities, and financial hardships.
2:33:59
CUNY has food pantries operating at 18 undergraduate colleges and two professional schools.
2:34:05
Our students can visit any food pantry regardless of their campus of attendance.
2:34:10
These food pantries do more than just provide groceries.
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Many pantries are located within campus resource centers where staff assist students in applying for snap, emergency financial aid, and connecting with other critical services such as housing assistance and mental health counseling.
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The need for these services has grown at an alarming rate.
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In 02/2024 alone, CUNY food pantries recorded more than 206,000 visits, an extraordinary increase from 58,941 visits in 02/2022 and January and 46,504 44 visits in 02/2023.
2:34:52
Beyond food pantries, city council funding has allowed CUNY to implement the fresh food bag program, providing students with fresh produce, bread, eggs, and culturally appropriate food options, Helping to alleviate hunger while also creating opportunities for students to connect with vital support services on campus.
2:35:13
Despite the success of these initiatives, demand continues to outpace available resource.
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CUNY students are hard working, resilient, and deeply committed to their education, but no student should have to choose between paying for textbooks and putting food on the table.
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If we want our students to succeed, we must ensure they have access to fundamental resources they need to thrive.
2:35:34
I urge the council to continue and expand its investment in food security programs at the cost of 1,125,000.000 at CUNY.
2:35:43
With additional resources we can sustain and grow our food pantry operations, expand the fresh food bag program, and enhance the critical support services that help students.
2:35:54
Thank you for your time.