Giving Compass' Take:

· According to Education Dive, 1.8 million low-income students who qualify for benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are unaware of its existence. This program assists low-income students who suffer food insecurity.

· What role can philanthropy play in creating awareness about SNAP or supporting a food pantry on college campuses?

· Read more about SNAP benefits. 

While students who attend college part-time generally aren't considered eligible for SNAP, the report notes there are several ways they can meet the criteria to receive support, including if they receive other forms of public assistance, work at least 20 hours per week or have a dependent under the age of 6. While many students may be unaware of such assistance, experts say students are often embarrassed to report they are struggling.

The National Conference of State Legislatures last spring cited a study that showed nearly half (48%) of college students report food insecurity, and called for states to take several steps: align SNAP with financial aid eligibility; allow college enrollment to be considered part of SNAP's employment requirement; and make the SNAP eligibility and applications easier; and assist colleges in developing food assistance programs.

States such as California and New York have taken action to tackle the problem, the report notes. It also recognized Ohio University for allowing a university venue to accept SNAP benefits and for starting an on-campus food pantry, among other measures. Arizona State University earned a mention for a program that provides students with meal vouchers and then helps them find longer-term solutions, such as access to a food pantry or help with SNAP applications.

Read the full article about SNAP benefits by James Paterson at Education Dive.