With offices and a processing plant in Tri-Cities, Lamb Weston, one of the world’s largest producers of frozen french fries, made a $25,000 gift this past April to the Washington State University Tri-Cities Cougar Cupboard — now the WSU Lamb Weston Cougar Cupboard, part of a three-year $75,000 naming sponsorship.
The gift will be used to support salaries of students working in the student-run food pantry. The Cupboard, which provides fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food items and toiletries at no cost to students and their families, is run primarily by students, many of whom have previously found help there.
Lamb Weston has supported this campus resource since 2019, providing $25,000 each year. This commitment will, in three years, bring their total support to $200,000.
“We’re happy we can assist WSU Tri-Cities students and their families, so they can focus on their studies,” said Deb Dihel, vice president, strategic growth innovation at Lamb Weston. “As these students approach graduation, we hope they’ll consider Lamb Weston to begin their careers.”
Food insecurity has grown significantly on college campuses in the past 10 years, and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2010, there were few food pantries on college campuses. According to research by the non-profit college student loan guarantor Trellis, there are now more than 800 food pantries on college campuses across the country. The Cougar Cupboard itself received more than 500 requests for food during the 2023 fall semester.
A national crisis for college students
Recent reports suggest anywhere from 23–40% of college students deal with food insecurity. This rate is typically higher among state universities and community colleges that have more non-traditional students with families and full-time jobs.
Factors contributing to food insecurity on college campuses include the rising cost of tuition and living expenses, and the fact that college financial aid has not considered these rising costs. In addition, fewer state dollars are available for student support programs, and a higher portion of college students from low-income households are now attending college than in previous years. Finally, with very few exceptions, college students are not eligible for Federal and State food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Even students receiving scholarships and financial aid to cover their tuition are often overwhelmed making ends meet, and not having enough to pay for food or rent,” said Laura Sanchez, director of student services at WSU Tri-Cities, who mentioned many WSU students also struggle with homelessness.
Recent studies have found that more than a third of college students face housing insecurity, with nearly 15% or more of students experiencing homelessness.
“Because homelessness is a part of this growing problem facing Tri-Cities students,” said Sanchez, “the Cupboard has grown to provide a range of services to help our students.”
Fortunately, Washington State Legislature passed a law in 2023 underwriting a “basic needs navigator” position in college student services programs to help students access resources and meet their basic needs. This allowed WSU Tri-Cities to hire Maneesha Gammana Liyanage, the college’s basic needs navigator, who, in addition to maintaining a consistent food inventory for Tri-Cities pantry, works with Sanchez in developing strategies to address food and housing insecurity and other basic needs — clothing, physical and mental health, childcare, and transportation.
“Our students are grateful they don’t have to go to class hungry thanks to the Cupboard,” said Gammana Liyanage. “And we’re always grateful to Lamb Weston for their support.”
To make a gift to the WSU Tri-Cities Cougar Cupboard, contact Anneke Rachinski at anneke.rachinski@wsu.edu.
