Isabella County battles food insecurity this holiday season
With added pressures like gift-giving, winter utility bills and fewer meals at school or work during breaks, the holiday stretch can be tough for people who experience food insecurity.
Food insecurity is a pressing concern in Isabella County for both students and residents. According to Michigan's website, the food insecurity rate in Isabella County is 16.4%, higher than the Michigan average of 13.7%.
Campbell Geary, a program coordinator for the Central Michigan University food pantry, said about one in three college students experiences food insecurity.
"Even if it’s just, I only eat two meals a day instead of three because I can’t afford three, that still matters," Geary said.
But both CMU and Isabella County have resources to support students and residents.
Geary said that the CMU food pantry helps students succeed academically by reducing food insecurity.
"We exist to help supplement that and to help provide for student success; not having access to food is going to be a huge barrier to us succeeding in school," he said.
Students can use the pantry once per week by registering online.
“As long as you are registered for at least one credit in the current semester, you are eligible to use the pantry," Geary said. "We are just an emergency pantry to provide basic needs support for students because that helps increase retention rates, and it just makes students healthier and happier."
Geary also noted the often-overlooked mental toll of benefit uncertainty.
“One aspect that doesn’t get talked a lot about is the mental aspect," he said. "If I had been on SNAP and I had continually heard for a week and a half that my benefits were not going to come in, and I didn’t know what I was going to do, to not know whether or not you’re going to have access to food this week."
Isabella County also has several resources to help address food insecurity:
- The Isabella County Soup Kitchen provides hot meals and groceries for those in need
- Community Compassion Network (CCN) distributes food boxes and essential items to local families
