Some Colleges Starting Food Pantries

Several colleges in Kansas and Missouri are starting food pantries to help students survive the ever-increasing costs of higher education.

In Kansas, Emporia State University and Washburn University opened pantries this month, while Pittsburg State opened one in October. The Kansas City Star reports that the University of Missouri-Kansas City student activities office is working on opening a food pantry in March.

The nonprofit Feeding America said in its 2014 report on hunger that one in 10 hungry U.S. adults is a student. Two million are attending school full-time, and 1 million go part-time.

Feeding America spokeswoman Elaine Waxman says her agency has seen an increase in calls from colleges and universities inquiring about starting a campus food pantry.