CCSGA’s SNAP Emergency Action Plan

Dear Colorado College Student Body, 

Over the weekend, federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was not renewed due to the ongoing government shutdown. I’m extraordinarily disheartened by this news, but I am in no way surprised. Over the last week, the Colorado College Student Government Association (CCSGA) has dedicated our time to building a comprehensive, coordinated plan to support our campus and local communities to the highest degree.  

Below you’ll find important information about what this plan does, new donation programs that can be accessed using Gold Card, as well as documents detailing both on and off campus food and mental health resources.  

There’s work to be done. If you want to join us in executing our SNAP Emergency Action Plan, please fill out this interest form. 

Quick Links:  

New CCSGA resources (see following sections for details):  

Pass-a-Meal Program

Summary: 

This new program is nearly complete and we expect to launch within the next week—we are waiting on just a few small details. The Pass-a-Meal program allows students to use Gold Card funds to support students that may be affected by the lapse in federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

Interested in donating a meal?  

Step 1: Students will let the person working at the entrance to Rastall know that they’re interested in donating a meal.  

Step 2: Students will be asked to tap their Gold Card twice. Once for entry to Rastall (as usual), and the second to donate a meal.  

Step 3: The additional meal will become a voucher. The student will be given the voucher to either distribute to a friend or to drop off at the Worner Front Desk for another student to pick up later.   

Donation FAQs:  

How do I know if my Gold Card balance is high enough to donate a meal? If you have more than $582 remaining in both Gold Card and Gold Card Plus and are on the full meal plan (as of November 1st), then you have enough to donate.  

Will the voucher apply to every meal or a specific mealtime? The voucher will apply to a specific meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) because each meal is priced differently. The voucher you donate will be for the same meal during which you donated the voucher.  

How do you obtain a voucher? 

Step 1: Go to the Worner Desk and ask for a meal voucher. Be sure to specify which mealtime you’re looking to use a voucher for. If available, they’ll provide you with a voucher—no questions asked. 

Voucher FAQs:  

Will the voucher I pick up be for any meal or will it apply to a specific mealtime? Because each meal at Rastall is priced differently, vouchers apply to specific mealtimes. This means a breakfast voucher is different from a lunch voucher.  

Do I need to prove need to obtain the voucher? No.  

Community Harvest Night at Fall Fest

What: Join CCSGA for a catered community dinner, live music, and tables hosted by on-campus food security resources. There will also be an opportunity to donate food items for the SNAP Relief Food Drive (see below) at this event. 

When: Wednesday, November 19th from 4:00-6:00pm. 

Where: Worner Basement, Student Event Space  

SNAP Relief Food Drive

Summary: Food donation boxes will be placed in Worner and Hybl starting Wednesday, November 5th. Donations will be distributed between local partners and the CC Food Pantry. The drive will last until SNAP funding has been released. If your organization is also planning on hosting a food drive, we would love to collaborate!

What to donate: Canned fruit, canned meat or tuna, canned vegetables, soup, peanut butter, cereal, boxed dinners, oatmeal, and pre-packaged snacks.   

Increased Support for Pre-Existing Campus Resources

CCSGA is meeting with partners across campus to determine the current successes and limitations around food security resources. We’re meeting weekly with the CC Food Pantry and will maintain regular communication across student resource offices to understand evolving technical and financial support needs. We are prepared to act quickly to meet these needs. 

We’re also prepared to allocate up to $20,000 to strengthen our campus resources. 

I also encourage you to view our full SNAP Emergency Action Plan, which details more work being done across CCSGA to address food security. 

Person-to-person, human-to-human, I’m here for you. We, CCSGA, are here for you.   

 

In solidarity, 

Student Body President