Fighting Hunger Through Research and Action at Benny’s Pantry

Nielsen, now a student working towards a master's degree in public administration in the Department of Political Science, has worked as the Benny's Pantry student manager for nearly two years. Her devotion to non-profit work around food security led to a research initiative in collaboration with Shin Kue Ryu, Ph.D., associate professor of political science. Together, they investigated the growing problem of food insecurity among Generation Z students in their study, “College Campus Food Insecurity: Updating Solutions for Gen Z.”

Their findings are particularly significant for the ISU community, as they highlight the prevalence of food insecurity on the Pocatello campus. According to the survey conducted by Nielsen and Dr. Ryu, 82% of students who used Benny’s Pantry reported experiencing some level of food insecurity. These high numbers suggest that those facing food insecurity are actively seeking support through the pantry. However, the demand continues to exceed the available resources, with more people relying on Benny’s Pantry than can be sustainably supported by the current rate of food donations and supply.

Food insecurity is a significant challenge for ISU students as the scarcity mentality makes it hard to focus on academics alone.  "You’re more worried about what you’re going to eat and being hungry,” said Nielsen, noting that hunger doesn’t just affect physical well-being, it impacts academic performance, campus engagement, and future alumni relationships. Their survey of Benny’s Pantry users found:

• 59.1% reported hunger negatively affected their academics
• 49.2% said it affected their ability to be socially involved at university
• 49% said it diminished their overall university experience

Part of the project also examined the pantry’s 2024 inventory data to explore sustainability. The team discovered that some months operated in a supply deficit, meaning available food was not meeting demand.

"We don’t even know what the need on campus is, because if the food’s there, it’s taken," Nielsen explained. "The ideal would be that food brought in is always higher than distribution.”

This trend hints at the possible under-identification of the pervasiveness of food insecurity among ISU students.

As for the “why” behind ISU campus food insecurity, some barriers students face include inflation, limited transportation, mental health challenges, lack of qualifying criteria for SNAP (especially among traditional students), and insufficient meal plans on-campus.

Nielsen’s recommendations to address these challenges include:

• Improved marketing of resources
• App-based alerts to let students know about free food events or carpooling to grocery stores
• Expanded pantry space and staff to keep shelves stocked and support operations across ISU campuses
• De-stigmatization of food assistance

"Traditionally, college students are not seen as a demographic that’s in need," Nielsen said. "Luckily that’s changing so they can get the help and support they need. I wanted to do this research to improve pantry operations so we could figure out what to do and spread our reach around campus.”

A Garden of Support
Nielsen and pantry volunteers are now investing time in the campus garden to help increase sustainability through fresh produce. The garden and greenhouse teams have been instrumental in preparing for the first harvests, which will soon be available at the pantry. But a garden means a lot of extra work, including daily watering. Nielsen says there is an opportunity for volunteers to step up and support the students.

"Volunteering can help you feel good and make a bigger difference," she said. "Food donations are very important. All food donations go directly to the students. It comes to us and we put it on the shelves."

Nielsen recently presented her research at the American Society of Public Administration conference in Washington, D.C. and hopes to publish findings with Dr. Ryu to further contribute to national conversations on college food insecurity. 

Nielsen, who wants to manage non-profits, credits her professors in the MPA program, the Graduate School, and the Department of Political Science for helping her get to the conference and for supporting her growth as a student and leader.

"Being a student manager at Benny’s Pantry is a great opportunity for me," she said. "I’m able to tie what I learn in my courses into that instead of having to wait, and it’s been nice to practice those things.”

Benny’s Pantry is always in need of volunteers, food donations, and financial support. Summer volunteers are especially vital to help the garden thrive and prepare for upcoming harvests.

Follow Benny’s Pantry on social media for hours, volunteer opportunities, and updates.

Volunteer Opportunities for The Pantry
Volunteer Opportunities for The Garden