Inside the rise of campus basic needs programs: How NKU is addressing student hunger and clothing insecurity

Ella Rose Johnston

May 15, 2026

FUEL NKU and The Care Closet help students access basic needs

At Northern Kentucky University, support for students doesn’t begin and end in the classroom. It starts with food, clothing and the ability to meet everyday needs without fear of judgment.

Through Northern Kentucky University’s programs, FUEL NKU and the Care Closet, the university has built a growing system designed to address basic-needs insecurity, a challenge that is increasingly shaping students’ ability to succeed in college.

FUEL NKU, which stands for Feeding the University and Enriching Lives, operates as a free on-campus pantry providing food, hygiene items and household supplies. FUEL NKU can be found inside the Albright Health Center room 104 next to the NKU REC Center. Just a little ways across campus, the Care Closet offers free clothing — from casual wear to professional attire — available to any enrolled student.

Fresh vegetables lay out waiting to be taken by those who need them.
(Ella Rose Johnston)

Neither program requires proof of financial need. For students, that accessibility can make an immediate difference.

What may seem like a small, temporary solution reflects a broader shift in higher education: universities are increasingly stepping in to address students’ most basic needs — not as emergency aid, but as a necessary foundation for academic success.

FUEL NKU began in 2013 as a student-led initiative in a single room with just a couple of employees, created to support students experiencing hunger.

More than a decade later, it has grown into a 2,300-square-foot pantry that serves thousands of students each year.

“FUEL started out very small. It was like one room, I think there was two employees, and really it was more about getting out resources and how to get a lot of things that they need, more so than it was like providing those items. And now, we focus on helping more students,” said Lisa Badger, operations coordinator and college coach for FUEL NKU.

According to Peg Adams, director of University Connect and Persist (UCAP), FUEL NKU and the Care Closet, FUEL NKU has continued to grow in recent years.

The scale of that growth is reflected in the numbers.

According to the 2024–25 FUEL NKU impact report (updated October 2025) the pantry distributed 141,662 pounds of food, FUEL NKU saved students an estimated $358,813, usage increased 30% year over year in fall 2024 and more than 1 in 7 undergraduate students used the pantry.

During the school year, the pantry serves about 250 students per day, Badger said. In the summer, that number drops to about 50 to 60 students daily, reflecting lower campus activity.

The demand, however, extends beyond food.

“The biggest need for students right now I mean, in general, I think for us, we would say probably food because that’s what students mostly come here for. But I will say a lot of students are asking for resources with basic hygiene,” Badger said. “Cleaning supplies, like I need to keep my dorm room clean. I need stuff to do my laundry so that I feel clean and prepared and focused when I go to class and I can feel good about myself.”

In response, FUEL NKU has expanded its inventory to include hygiene products such as deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as cleaning supplies and household items.

Basic-needs insecurity among students often goes unnoticed because many students quietly manage financial hardships without others realizing it. Some may only need temporary assistance during difficult periods caused by unexpected costs, such as medical bills or gaps between paychecks and access to affordable, shelf-stable food can ease that burden.

Others face more serious challenges, including housing instability and food rationing, while still attending classes and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy.

That invisibility is one of the biggest challenges in addressing student needs — and one of the reasons programs like FUEL NKU are designed to remove those barriers.

Unlike many traditional food pantries, FUEL NKU does not require students to demonstrate financial need. Any enrolled student with an NKU All Card can access the pantry and shop up to twice per week.

Adams said that structure is intentional.

“We basically want to provide not only food and basic needs for students, but we want to be able to advocate for students, help reduce food insecurity,” she said. “We want to be able to provide what students need in order to be successful as students at NKU.”

This structure helps normalize use of the pantry, reducing stigma and encouraging students to seek help earlier.

As the program continues to grow, FUEL NKU staff are working to better address the diverse realities of today’s students.

Not all students fit the traditional model.

“We have some students that aren’t in that average, like, 18 to 25 range. They’re adults. They have kids,” Badger said.

Current limits on food distribution may not meet the needs of students supporting families. Badger said FUEL NKU is working to adjust its policies to better account for household size, allowing students with children to access larger amounts of food.

At the same time, FUEL NKU needs more awareness to help everyone they can.

“The resources are here, but I don’t think that they’re broad enough that people know about them enough… students have to be like in real need to really hear about that resource,” Badger said.

Its inventory relies on a combination of university funding, grants and community partnerships.

FUEL NKU receives support from corporate sponsors such as Kroger, as well as donations from campus organizations, nonprofits and individuals. Community partners including Matthew 25 Ministries, Master Provisions and La Soupe, also contribute resources.

“We’re always trying to get more donations coming in so that we can help even more students,” Badger said.

Continued growth, Badger says, will depend on both funding and increased awareness of the programs.

While food insecurity has gained national attention, clothing insecurity remains less discussed — but it can carry significant academic and social consequences.

NKU’s Care Closet, located at UC 142 which is on the first floor of the University Center, launched in 2019 in partnership with the Newport Care Closet, created to address clothing insecurity.

Racks inside Care Closet show an array of clothing options for students.
(Ella Rose Johnston)

The program provides free clothing to students, including everyday wear, professional attire and accessories. Like FUEL NKU, it is open to all students without financial screening.

According to a 2025 MSIO Capstone Report on the Care Closet @ NKU, 214 students used the closet in fall 2024, recording a total of 350 visits. This marked a 39% increase in visits compared to fall 2023. More than 900 students attended Care Closet events and tabling activities.

Adams said access to clothing is directly tied to student confidence.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to feel good about going to class, going to that interview and feeling comfortable and that Care Closet can help,” Adams said.

Like FUEL NKU, the Care Closet is designed to feel accessible and welcoming rather than transactional.

Students can walk in during open hours or attend pop-up events held across campus. The experience is intentionally similar to a thrift boutique environment, allowing students to browse and select items freely.

Button-ups, flannels and long sleeve shirts hang on the racks. (Ella Rose Johnston)

The program also offers clothing for specific needs, including professional attire, special occasion items and gender-affirming apparel, such as chest binders for transgender and nonbinary students. Research shows chest binding can improve mental health, self-esteem and feelings of safety and acceptance in social, academic and workplace settings, highlighting the importance of continuing the service on campus.

NKU’s approach has also drawn attention from other institutions looking to develop similar programs. According to university officials, schools including the University of Louisville have reached out to learn more about the Care Closet model.

A Care Closet report found NKU offers a broader range of programming and clothing options than many peer institutions, which often focus primarily on professional attire.

As the role of basic-needs programs expands, so does the definition of what it means to support students. The biggest thing about these programs is that they are reducing financial insecurity. Students can seek help with no questions asked.

Inside FUEL NKU an array of condiments, canned goods and many more products stack the shelves.
(Ella Rose Johnston)

Hunger rises on campus as grocery prices go up

By Michael Hehman, Contributor

On most mornings, Northern Kentucky University sophomore Eric Robinson tries to ignore the hunger. He wakes up in his dorm, grabs his backpack and heads straight to class without eating. It’s not that he forgets breakfast, it’s that he can’t afford it. By the time of his second class at 10:40 a.m., he starts to get really hungry. His stomach will growl just asking for food.

“I hate it,” he said. “It’s embarrassing. But I don’t have a choice most days.”

Robinson lives on campus, but that doesn’t mean he’s comfortable. He pays for his own tuition. His meal plan ran out weeks ago. Now, when he’s hungry, he walks to FUEL NKU, the campus food pantry behind the Student Union.

“I try not to go too often,” Robinson said. “But sometimes it’s the only way I’m eating that day.”

His situation isn’t unusual. Food insecurity – the lack of consistent access to enough food – has become a growing issue on college campuses across the country.

A national survey from The Hope Center found that about 40% of college students experience food insecurity during the academic year. Rising grocery prices, rent and tuition have pushed many students into either paying bills or buying food.

Inflation is still squeezing people across the country, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that consumer prices rose 3.3% over the past year.

A national survey on economic concerns, reflected in multiple consumer-sentiment polls, shows that most Americans say rising prices are their top financial worry, and many have cut back on non-essential spending just to keep up with groceries, utilities and other everyday essentials continuing to rise.

People across the country are adjusting to how expensive everything has become. NKU is no exception. FUEL NKU staff say they’ve seen a steady increase in students using the pantry over the past few years. Some come once a month. Others come weekly. A few come almost every day.

“You’d be surprised how many students are skipping meals,” FUEL worker Hannah Rachford said. “It’s not always who you expect.”

Zoe Huff doesn’t live on campus, but her situation is just as difficult. She works full-time at a restaurant, and she goes to classes whenever she can. Most of her paycheck disappears into her car payment, insurance and other bills. By the time she covers everything, groceries are the first thing she cuts.

“There are weeks where I’m choosing between gas and food,” Huff said. “And I have to choose gas because I can’t miss work.”

Huff didn’t want to use the pantry at first. She remembers standing outside the door for several minutes, debating whether to walk in. She worried someone she knew would see her. She worried she didn’t need help.

“I kept thinking, ‘Other people probably need this more than me,’” she said. “But then I realized I hadn’t eaten a real meal in two days.”

Her first visit was awkward. She was unsure of where to start or what she was allowed to take. But the staff were kind, and she left with pasta, canned vegetables and a box of oatmeal enough to get her through the week. Now she visits regularly.

“I’m not trying to live off ramen or pasta,” she said, “but sometimes that’s what it comes down to.”

Huff said the hardest part isn’t the hunger itself, it’s the exhaustion – working full-time, attending classes and managing bills. Skipping meals only makes it worse.

“You can’t focus when you’re hungry,” she said. “You can’t study. You can’t stay awake in class. It affects everything.”

FUEL NKU serves hundreds of students each week, according to staff estimates. The pantry offers canned goods, pasta, cereal, snacks, hygiene products and sometimes fresh produce when donations are allowed. Certain items disappear quickly including peanut butter, pasta sauce, granola bars, rice and toiletries.

“We restock as often as we can,” Rachford said. “But demand is high. Higher than people realize.”

The pantry tries to reduce stigma by keeping the space welcoming and judgment-free. Students can take what they need, no questions asked. But many still hesitate.

“There’s this idea that if you’re in college, you’re fine,” Rachford said. “But a lot of students are struggling quietly.”

Ben Molloy knows that struggle well. He lives in an off-campus apartment, and between rent, utilities and class fees, his budget is stretched thin. He works full-time at NKU for security.

“Rent comes first,” Molloy said. “If I don’t pay that, I don’t have a place to live. Food comes after.”

Molloy started using FUEL NKU earlier this year when he realized he couldn’t keep up with grocery costs. He remembers standing in Kroger with a basket of basic items including bread, eggs and pasta and realizing he didn’t have enough money to pay for all of it.

“That’s when it hit me,” he said. “I needed help.”

Now he visits the pantry weekly. He picks items that can last, such as rice, beans, canned chicken and soup. He’s learned how to make simple meals that last several days.

“I’m not proud of it,” he said. “But I’m not ashamed either. I’m doing what I have to do.”

Molloy said he wishes more students understood that food insecurity doesn’t always look like what people imagine.

“People think if you have an apartment, you’re fine,” he said. “But rent is expensive. Groceries are expensive. Everything is expensive. You can have a place to live and still not have enough to eat.”

Food insecurity affects more than just a student’s stomach. It impacts academic performance, mental health and overall well-being. Students who are hungry struggle to concentrate, learn and stay engaged in class. Many report feeling anxious, ashamed or isolated. Some avoid social events because they can’t afford to eat out with friends. Others hide their struggles from family members who assume they’re doing fine.

Robinson said hunger makes everything harder.

“When you’re sitting in class and your stomach is hurting, you’re not thinking about the lecture,” he said. “You’re thinking about how to survive the day.”

Huff said the stress of balancing work, school and hunger feels overwhelming at times.

“It’s like you’re constantly running on empty,” she said. “You’re trying to keep up, but your body is tired.”

Molloy said he’s learned to push through the hunger.

“You get used to it,” he said. “But you shouldn’t have to.”

One afternoon, Robinson walked out of FUEL NKU with a small bag of groceries containing ramen, canned soup and a few granola bars. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to get him through the next few days.

He headed back to his dorm and saw students carrying to-go boxes of food, coffee and snacks.

“I don’t want people to feel bad for me,” he said. “I just want people to understand that this is real. A lot of us are struggling, even if we don’t talk about it.”

As he reached his building, he paused for a moment, shifting the grocery bag in his hand.

“I’m grateful for the pantry,” he said. “Without it, I don’t know what I’d do.”

He pushed open the door and disappeared inside, ready to make a simple dinner – something warm, something filling, something that would carry him through another long day of classes.

For Robinson, Huff, Molloy and many others at NKU, hunger isn’t dramatic. It’s not loud. It’s not obvious. It’s a quiet reality. One that follows them from class to class, day after day. It’s a reality that isn’t going away anytime soon.

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