SNAP Delays Strain WSSU Students

Winston-Salem, N.C. — Delays in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

(SNAP) are creating financial strain for many Winston-Salem State University (WSSU)

students at a time when food insecurity remains widespread nationally. At WSSU, nearly

25 percent of students are either eligible for or currently receiving SNAP benefits. This

reflects broader national trends. A 2024 Government Accountability Office report found

that 3.8 million college students, or 23 percent, experienced food insecurity in 2020. Of

those students, 2.2 million reported very low food security, meaning they skipped meals

or ate less because they could not afford enough food. Fewer than half of students who

were potentially eligible for SNAP received benefits.

On WSSU’s campus, the impact of SNAP delays can be seen in the increasing demand

for the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry. During the 2024 to 2025 academic year, the

pantry recorded more than 1,200 student visits. In fall 2025 alone, students visited the

pantry more than 700 times. Staff members noticed the rise in usage around the same

time students began reporting delays or reductions in their SNAP benefits.

Ms. Nyjae Johnson, Case Manager with the Dean of Students Office, said the increase in

demand was gradual before becoming more pronounced.

“People were still coming, but the numbers were not as heavy as before. They were still a

need, though,” Johnson said. “A lot of people prior to them even being cut did not know

that they could actually qualify for SNAP.” She explained that once the cuts took effect,

pantry usage increased immediately.

Across North Carolina, nearly 85,000 college students rely on SNAP, yet about 33

percent of potentially eligible students have not enrolled in the program. For students

who depend on these benefits, delays can create academic challenges.

“When my SNAP card was delayed, I had to pick between food and covering transport. It

made concentrating on school really hard,” said Alexandria Chandler, a senior social

work major.

The Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry has expanded significantly since its early

development. The idea began around 2019 and grew rapidly between 2021 and 2022. The

pantry originally operated in a small space in DJR before moving to a larger renovated

location on the ground floor of Thompson Center. This expansion was made possible

through a 125,000 dollar donation from Allegacy Federal Credit Union, along with an

additional 5,000 dollars per year for five years to support pantry operations.

The pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10

a.m. to 3 p.m. It provides a wide variety of items including canned goods, pasta, rice,

meat, fresh produce when available, hygiene products, diapers, menstrual supplies, and

professional clothing for interviews.

Despite the increased demand, Johnson said that awareness remains one of the biggest

challenges.

“A lot of students may not even know we are here,” she said. “We take donations, we

help with SNAP applications, and if we do not have what a student needs, we try to direct

them to someone who does.”

As SNAP delays continue throughout North Carolina, the rising need demonstrated by

more than 700 pantry visits in a single semester and over 1,200 in the academic year

shows how essential the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry has become. For many WSSU

students, it remains a critical resource providing stability during ongoing financial

uncertainty.