Stories of Hunger

Food insecurity - Hope over hunger

Ezekial


Not too long ago, Ezekial came to the United States from West Africa in search of a better life. To achieve his dreams, he is working on his degree in finance at Houston Community College (HCC). He attends classes full time and also works in the work-study program in the admissions office at HCC. What keeps him going is having access to free, healthy food – right on campus – through the College Scholarship Pantry program provided by the Houston Food Bank.

“It isn’t easy going to school and having a part-time job. You have to pay bills and you have other things to do,” Ezekial says, pointing to his cart of food, “This will last me two to three weeks, and will save me a lot of money to do other things – like buy textbooks. I like to cook, and a lot of this food I actually cook myself.”

Ezekial is just one of the 250 students who are chosen each semester from a list of students on financial aid, and given access to the Food Scholarship program. The goal is to eventually expand the program and make it available to every student on campus who needs assistance.

Thanks to friends like you, students like Ezekial can study hard to pursue their academic goals and work toward a better future. Thank you for giving these young men and women with limited resources the nutritious food they need to succeed!