The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), estimates that one in three college students experience food insecurity nationwide. For some, it comes down to buying books or buying groceries. That’s a choice Texas Wesleyan University students don’t have to make, thanks to a food pantry initiative supported by Texas Healthy Community Hope, where Texas Health lives its mission to improve community health.

University food pantries are nothing new, but grocery costs can make it difficult to stock fresh produce and other healthy items. That was the case for Dr. Allison Simons, a Texas Wesleyan professor who started the campus pantry in 2016 when she recognized a growing need among students. In the fall of 2023, Simons’ efforts got a boost when Texas Health Community Hope began to make weekly deliveries of fruits and vegetables through its Good For You healthy hub program. Last school year alone, the pantry served over 10,000 individuals, including students, faculty and other university employees, providing nearly 30,000 pounds of fresh produce.  

Texas Wesleyan senior Mikaela Rivera, who has volunteered for and shopped at the pantry, said it’s a great resource for students. “Instead of depending on Ramen noodles, students can pick up a piece of fruit before class or take home some vegetables for an evening meal,” Rivera said. “There are even cooking demos to teach us how to make specific dishes. I know I’m eating a lot more fruits and vegetables because of the pantry.” 

The Good For You healthy hub program began in 2019 and has grown to more than 20 locations, including area elementary and middle schools and community centers. The healthy hubs differ from traditional pantries because they focus on providing fresh produce—sometimes through Texas Health Community Hope’s Farms to Families program, which purchases unsold produce from local farmers and donates it to the healthy hubs. Healthy staples, as well as other items needed by the community such as clothing, toiletries, or diapers, are also provided. Beyond this, the hubs are also dedicated to fostering a healthier community by including resources like nutrition education and other activities aimed at empowering students and their families to make informed healthier decisions.

To date, the program has provided nearly 805,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and served over 139,000 people at 20 locations across Tarrant County. Texas Wesleyan is the first university-based Good For You location. “Research tells us fresh fruits and vegetables are critical to physical and mental health,” said Matt Dufrene, a vice president with Texas Health Community Hope. “Our efforts are focused on making sure no one lacks access to that basic necessity to live a healthy life.” 

According to an online survey conducted by the University of California, college food pantries can substantially improve students' mental health. Students who visited a food pantry more frequently each month reported improved physical and mental well-being, including better perceived health and fewer symptoms of depression. “We see a lot of enthusiasm for the pantry from students and others who work on campus,” Simons said. “It’s meaningful to know that we are helping feed their bodies with healthy foods so that they can focus and do well in their educational pursuits.”   

The Good For You program is just one way Texas Health Community Hope is working to build a stronger, healthier food ecosystem. Other initiatives include funding and support for school gardens, support for farmers markets and urban farms, and Double Up Food Bucks, which enables Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit participants to double their savings on fresh produce at participating farmers markets and grocers. In addition, the Culled Produce Recovery Program, a partnership with local urban farms and grocery stores, gives new life to unsold produce.

Learn more about these healthy food initiatives at TexasHealth.org