Ridgewater Earns Hunger Free Campus Designation from Minnesota State
July 21, 2026
WILLMAR and HUTCHINSON, MN –Ridgewater College has received the Hunger Free Campus Designation from Minnesota State. This designation recognizes Ridgewater College’s efforts to reduce and eliminate food insecurity among their student populations.
Approximately 23% of undergraduate students in the United States experience food insecurity annually, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis of 2020 data. At two-year colleges, the rate is even higher, with 38% reporting food insecurity in a Hope Center Survey in Fall 2020.
To earn the Hunger Free Campus Designation, Ridgewater College has demonstrated successful implementation of activities to achieve the goal of reducing and eliminating food insecurity on their campus.
Mark Taylor, community resource and inclusion coordinator, stated that “The Hunger Free Campus Grant helps ensure that students can focus on learning instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from. Through this funding, Ridgewater can provide food pantry resources, emergency assistance, basic needs support, and connections to community resources that help students and their families navigate difficult situations. Over the years, we’ve worked to transform our pantry into a welcoming, centrally located resource where students feel comfortable seeking support. When students visit our pantry, we want them to find more than food—we want them to find a welcoming space where they know they belong. The designation helps us continue investing in the space, and the resources needed to serve students with dignity and care.”
“At Minnesota State, supporting our students with the resources they need to succeed with their educational goals is paramount, and that includes having enough to eat,” said Shawn Anderson, system director for student development and success for Minnesota State. “This designation recognizes the commitment that Ridgewater College has made to ensure that no student has to choose between their education and their next meal.”
Colleges and universities within the Minnesota State system can apply each year for Hunger Free Campus funding, provided by the Minnesota legislature. Whether or not they receive funding, colleges and universities who demonstrate success in reducing and eliminating hunger on campus can be awarded the Hunger Free Campus designation on an annual basis.