Rams Against Hunger

[vc_row el_class=”intro-copy”][vc_column][heading text=”Rams Against Hunger”][vc_images_carousel images=”52352″ img_size=”medium”][vc_separator color=”white”][vc_column_text]Rams Against Hunger (RAH) Program Overview

Operating from The Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLiCE), Rams Against Hunger offers a menu of services that support students, faculty and staff experiencing food insecurity. Services include a food pantry, a meal-swipe program, pocket pantries, and in-person assistance with navigating federal aid eligibility. This multi-pronged approach acknowledges the broad scope of the issue and seeks to normalize this difficult conversation for the individuals affected, as well as for the institution as a whole. Our hope in providing these services is to ensure that basic needs need not be overlooked at the expense of a degree. By reducing the stigma around food insecurity and meeting student, staff and faculty needs in a way that affirms dignity, we hope to live out the creed that Rams really do take care of Rams.

[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”white”][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Rams Against Hunger Food Pantry” tab_id=”1505497146883-d51ee575-230e”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_message message_box_color=”green”]Rams Against Hunger is working with our partners at the Food Bank of Larimer County to gather client data from our visitors at the RAH Pantry.  Your registration with the Link2Feed client intake system helps us prepare data driven proposals for grant funding and will support our services to the CSU community.  By taking just a few minutes to register now, you will also help us to streamline the process for all your future visits to the RAH Pantry.

Please note that registration with the Link2Feed client intake system is optional, and is completely separate from the CSU data collection.  We greatly appreciate you considering this step as it will enhance our programming now, and into the future.

REGISTER WITH LINK2FEED

[/vc_message][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]To help address financial stress and food insecurity brought about by COVID 19, Rams Against Hunger is now offering a permanent food pantry on campus. Hours of operation for the Spring 2021 semester are as follows:
• Monday: CLOSED
• Tuesday: CLOSED
• Wednesdays: 3:00 – 6:00 pm
• Thursdays: 3:00 – 6:00 pm
• Fridays: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Additional resources are available through our partners at the Food Bank of Larimer County.

All members of our community (students, staff and faculty) may access the RAH Food Pantry through the lobby of the Lory Student Centre Theatre. Please bring your CSU ID card.
We ask that all visitors work with us to maintain social distancing guidelines and health protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Pocket Pantries” tab_id=”1542737786186-6ff89612-c87d”][vc_column_text]Rams Against Hunger also will continue to offer a limited selection of food items to all members of the Ram community at the following Pocket Pantry locations:

  1. Lory Student Center- level 200 – ASCSU Plaza-side entrance
    Please “swipe” your CSU ID to enter the Pocket Pantry doors
  2. University Housing – Aggie Village Family Apartments
    Aggie Village Family Center – 501 West Prospect St, Building 24
  3. University Housing – University Village Center Apartments
    1500, 1600, 1700 West Plum

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Rams Against Hunger Meal Swipe Program” tab_id=”1505497146803-e5675d44-bf5b”][vc_column_text]This program allows eligible students to apply for 60 meal swipes, which can be utilized at any CSU dining hall.

How it works

  • Students apply for dining hall meals via the application on this website.
  • Applications are evaluated by Student Financial Services (eligibility for the program is outlined below in the “eligibility” section).
  • Applicants will be notified of their selection after no more than 1 week by the Rams Against Hunger Coordinator. Applications are accepted year-round and are accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Selected applicants will receive 60 meals per semester on their RamCard. If an applicant applies mid semester, the number of meals they receive will be prorated. These meals are loaded electronically onto the recipient’s card. Recipients will be notified via email when their card has been loaded with meals and is ready to use in the residence hall dining centers.
  • Recipients can swipe their RamCard at any CSU dining hall. Hours and locations of CSU dining centers can be found here.
  • Recipients may reapply each semester.

Who’s eligible

  • Undergraduate students enrolled at Colorado State University and registered for 6 or more credits

Criteria

  • Must have a valid RamCard (can be obtained at RamCard Office).
  • Have an Expected Family Contribution of 15,000 or less based on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CSU ASSET Bill Institutional Aid Application.
  • Must not currently have a meal plan at CSU Residential Dining Centers.
  • Priority will be given to students who have not received support from Rams Against Hunger previously.

For more information, email the Rams Against Hunger Coordinator or call 970-219-7165

Access the Student Application

PLEASE NOTE: All Meal Swipe funding has been utilized for the Fall 21 Semester. New applicants will be placed on a wait list at this time. Should additional funding become available, swipes will be allocated to eligible applicants on a first come first served basis.  If no funding is available during the Fall 21 Semester, your application will carry over for Spring 2022.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”APPLY” shape=”square” color=”orange” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Framlink.collegiatelink.net%2Fform%2Fstart%2F78997|||”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”RamRide Food Ops” tab_id=”1583174172701-b6476825-2b44″][vc_column_text]We will be pausing our RamRide Food Ops until further notice. While our hope is to have this program back up and running by mid-fall, we will continue to monitor and keep you updated.  The Rams Against Hunger Pantry will be moving locations later this semester and our partners at RamRide want to let us settle in before restarting deliveries. We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope you’ll be able to utilize other RAH services. Please check back periodically for updates. If you need any additional support, feel free to contact Michael Buttram for specific questions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Student Day of Giving” tab_id=”1570735463280-ceaffed0-ae8f”][vc_column_text] This service has been suspended for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters due to COVID 19.

Rams Against Hunger: Day of Giving (Meal Swipe Program): SLiCE is collaborating with Housing and Dining Services to combat food insecurity via the CSU Dining Halls!  During lunch and dinner, students who currently have meal passes can donate up to 2 of their unused guest passes to support this program. Volunteers are near the meal swipe stations at the entrances of each dining hall to encourage people to swipe two times to donate two meals, if able/interested.  It is an easy (and fun) volunteer opportunity with great significant impact. SLiCE hopes to have 60 volunteers, divided between 6 different dining hall locations. Day of Giving volunteer shifts occur between 11:00AM – 2:00PM and 5:00PM – 8:00PM.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”SNAP Benefits & Federal Benefits On Campus” tab_id=”1505497211463-e2a73877-a79e”][vc_column_text]What is SNAP?

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, can help eligible low-income families and individuals stretch their food budget! SNAP provides monthly supplemental income for food purchases for about 1 in 10 Coloradoans, including hard-working families, children, students, seniors, veterans and those who are disabled.

SNAP is a federal entitlement program, which means that granting one individual benefits will not take away from others who are eligible. If you and your family are in need, consider applying!

Student Eligibility Guidelines:

You might qualify for SNAP if you meet any of the following criteria:

    • Work 80 hours/month or participate in work-study (or experienced loss of income due to COVID-19)
    • Are a Parent or Caregiver
    • Receive TANF Benefits
    • Have a Disability that Makes Working Challenging
    • Participate in a Workforce Development Program

Colorado State University is available to help you apply for SNAP remotely! For more information and to complete an eligibility screening and application, contact SNAP4Rams@colostate.edu. Or you can call us at (970) 491-8051. We are here to answer your question and help you navigate the benefit process.

Students (18-49) attending college at least half-time* may be eligible by income guidelines and one of the above additional criteria

Students attending college less than half-time* and those age 50+ do not need to meet additional student criteria (only income)

Factors that may impact eligibility:

  • If your meal plan pays for more than half of your meals per week, you are not eligible for SNAP
  • If you are under the age of 22 and living with parent or guardians, you must apply for SNAP as part of their household.
  • If you are on a break from school, you must still meet the criteria that make you eligible for SNA
  • If you are receiving benefits through the VA or private scholarships, they may count for income.

How does it work?

You must apply for SNAP in the state where you currently live.  You apply for SNAP as part of a “household”.  A household consists of everyone who lives together and purchases and prepares meals together.

An eligible household will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card.  Benefits are automatically loaded into your account each month.   If your state agency determines that you are eligible, you will receive benefits back to the date you submitted your application.

In most cases, your state agency or local office will process your application within 7 – 30 days.  During the 30 days, you may need to complete an eligibility interview and provide verification of the information provided on the application.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Ram Food Recovery Program” tab_id=”1551371741738-06e362ba-7507″][vc_column_text]Ram Food Recovery is a program that supports CSU students and employees experiencing food insecurity by sending text alerts for food leftover from catered events within Housing & Dining Services. If a catered event has any food leftover at the end of the event, catering staff send a text alert to subscribers with date, time, and location of food pick-up. Participants generally have a 30 minute window for food pick-up.

Anyone with a CSU ID is welcome to sign up for text alerts for these meals. As catering returns to campus on a limited basis this summer, we will have a few events and we hope to have the program fully return in the fall.

To sign up for the Ram Food Recovery text chain and program, please visit this link. By signing up for Ram Food Recovery, you will receive an alert when food is available (regular text charges will apply).[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Donate to Rams Against Hunger” tab_id=”1505497325049-6b8eb103-e7e6″][vc_column_text]More than 2,800 Colorado State University students experiences food insecurity each year. Their stories are often silent.

Rams Against Hunger serves as emergency food relief for our students. $9.00 provides the cost of a nutritious meal from one of our dining centers, $160 feeds a student for a month. Your support of Rams Against Hunger will ensure that food-insecure students have the resources to win against hunger, focus on their educations, and succeed in college, despite the odds.

One in ten Colorado State University students deals with food insecurity. Donate to Rams Against Hunger today. 

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”DONATE TODAY” shape=”square” color=”orange” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fadvancing.colostate.edu%2FRAMSAGAINSTHUNGER”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Additional Food Resources” tab_id=”1585868091985-77483de1-e2b0″][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_column_text]Basic Needs Resources Map   Link to Map[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”52466″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Additional information and resources can be found on You@CSU.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]