Food insecurity, defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food to support an active, healthy life, affects about one in nine Americans. According to a report by Feeding Westchester, evidence is mounting that college students make up a growing percentage of the number of food insecure Americans. A study by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice found that, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some 60% of college students were affected by job loss or were having difficulty obtaining food, water or housing.
Students who do not get enough healthy food often suffer adverse effects, not only to their health and well-being but also to their academic success. Without enough to eat students tend to miss more classes, have lower test scores and have a greater risk of dropping out before graduation.
In 2017, Mercy College set out to fight food insecurity by opening the first Mav Market Food Pantry and Resource Center (Mav Market) on the Bronx Campus. Spearheaded by Felipe Henao, former assistant dean of student affairs, and Hannah Berling, a student life specialist in Student Affairs at the Manhattan Campus, the program is helping to address food insecurity on Mercy’s three campuses.
Described as “Mercy’s food and resource pantry,” the Mav Market distributes fresh and nonperishable food, snacks, toiletries and baby supplies to registered members, helps them apply for state and federal support programs, and offers advice on healthy meal planning. According to Julie Cruickshank, Mav Market program coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA member, the program serves over 800 registered members and has distributed over 33,000 meals to the Mercy community since its inception.