SNAC Student Projects
Project Description The project is part of a nonprofit management class to learn deeply about nonprofit management topics/skills. Learn more about fundraising and finding resources for nonprofits

Resource Development Plan

This study assessed how SNAC helps students. Findings suggest that SNAC not only reduces money worries but it also lets students join more social events. SNAC is important for students because it helps them manage their money better and makes life easier for them.

Social and Economic Impact of SNAC

Food insecurity is a common occurrence among college students and may have profound impacts on a student’s physical and mental well-being.1 It is vital that college campuses create not only access to food, but a culture of food security among students and student service organizations. Many institutions are striving to provide food assistance to their students and create this culture through a variety of methods. Ninety-seven percent of institutions involved in programs to fight food insecurity implement food pantries, but only 54% track the impact of their food pantries. Through this study, the impact of Utah State University's SNAC on students' physical and mental health was assessed.

Impact of SNAC of Physical and Mental Health

Though areas of improvement were discovered, patrons described a positive impact from the utilization of SNAC. The students interviewed shared examples of how SNAC has increased their overall nutrition quality, food variety and food security. This data, along with other information from the survey will be used to provide insight on aspects of the pantry that are fulfilling student needs, as well as areas where patron satisfaction can be improved. This study provided valuable insight on different aspects of student food security at USU, but further research with larger sample sizes will need to be conducted throughout universities in the United States in order to establish common trends in different aspects of student food security and utilization of nutrition-related resources.

SNAC Patrons' Typical use and Overall Evaluation of Services

This study aimed to address the impact of the intervention of SNAC. Based on the results, the USU SNAC pantry has made a substantial positive impact on students’ academic performance.

Impact of SNAC on Academic Success

Students with low and very low food security are 2x more likely to experience mild mental health distress, 4x more likely to experience moderate mental health distress, and almost 7x more likely to experience severe mental health distress.

Food Insecurity Impacts Mental Health

SNAC is always looking for more volunteers who want to help make a difference here at USU. Go to Utah State’s GivePulse to sign up and help make an impact or spread the word that you can volunteer. Check out @ususnac on Instagram to see what the volunteering experience looks like.

Volunteer Recruitment

Project Goals: -Writing a satisfactory grant template, identifying a suitable grant, and writing the grant. -Help SNAC end food insecurity for students at USU with more funding. -Increase academic success and overall well-being by providing basic food to students. -Secure essential funding for staple goods such as milk, eggs, bread, and other basics.

Staple Goods for USU Students

A systems approach utilized a broader lens than typical analysis, allowing for a more nuanced and complex understanding of a dynamic structure. While the SNAC pantry operates with its administration, its sustainability depends on the elements surrounding and supporting its mission.

SNAC Bolsters Food Security

At SNAC, we are proud to collaborate with students and faculty to provide opportunities for experiential learning. Our aim is to enable students to gain hands-on experience and valuable skills that will help them succeed in their future careers.