When administrators at the University of Mississippi Medical Center learned that medical and nursing students were having trouble affording meals and personal necessities, they acted quickly. A campus‑wide food drive in August collected donations, and on Sept. 1 the UMMC Food Pantry opened its doors with groceries, shampoo, laundry detergent pods and toothpaste.
Local campuses step up
“Every student’s financial situation is different,” said Jonathan Nutt, director of student services at UMMC. “The hope is to serve any student who needs it.” Nutt noted that many students lack family financial support and that demanding academic programs often limit the hours they can work.
At the University of Southern Mississippi, volunteers stocked the Eagle’s Nest Food Pantry with more than 890 pounds of food, hygiene products and other essentials during the first week of classes. The pantry logged 2,785 visits last school year, 81 % of which were by students. Dean of Students Sirena Cantrell expects the demand to grow, adding, “We’re beginning to see more students than ever. Faculty and staff are sharing the resource with students they see are in need.”
Student‑run assistance at Mississippi State and Delta State
Mississippi State University’s Bully’s Pantry continues to help students balance tuition, housing and everyday expenses. Volunteer Hali Hollman, who served at the pantry from 2023‑2025 and is graduating with the class of 2026, said, “We are juggling all kinds of expenses and also having to balance our classwork, extracurriculars, work and thinking about our future.”
Delta State University’s Statesman’s Shelf saw visits more than double, rising from 672 in the 2023‑24 academic year to 1,672 in 2025‑26. While tuition has stayed flat, food and on‑campus housing costs rose 3.6 % between 2023‑24 and 2024‑25, with off‑campus costs up 2.4 %.
When Winter Storm Fern forced the campus to close in January, the pantry remained open despite icy roads and downed power lines. Volunteer coordinator Brandi Lovin reported that 416 people were served that month, about half of them during the storm. The increased demand also helped relaunch Okra Threads, a campus clothing closet that now offers business attire, everyday clothing, shoes and accessories.
Why the need is growing
A 2023 Hope Center for Basic Needs survey found that 59 % of college students lack access to at least one basic need such as housing or transportation, and 41 % reported food insecurity. Rising costs for housing, groceries, transportation and other living expenses are affecting students across Mississippi and the nation.
Federal data shows that while textbook and supply costs have remained steady, food and student‑housing expenses have climbed in recent years. The pandemic‑era inflation surge has left many students relying on campus resources to stay on track academically.
Supporting the future workforce
University officials stress that addressing food insecurity and basic‑needs gaps is essential for preparing students for careers in Mississippi’s vital healthcare sector. “We just want to ensure we are preparing our students for their careers and that they can eventually serve the health needs of Mississippians,” Nutt said.
These pantry initiatives illustrate how Mississippi’s higher‑education institutions are partnering with volunteers, faculty and local donors to protect students’ ability to earn degrees without sacrificing their health or dignity.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
