Scaling System-Wide: California to New York

Swipe Out Hunger is no stranger to system-wide program scaling, having worked directly with both the University of California’s nine campuses and many of the California State University’s 23 campuses to effectively scale meal assistance programs following the Hunger-Free Campus Bill passing in California in 2017. That said, we’re excited to announce that the Swipe movement just went coastal, working with the largest university system in the U.S.: SUNY.

We are collaborating with SUNY leadership to develop a three-phase strategy to implement Swipe Out Hunger programs across the system. Yesterday, SUNY announced the launch of its first Swipe Out Hunger program at the SUNY Delhi campus. Over the next six months, we look forward to supporting the adoption of Swipe Out Hunger pilots at other SUNY schools. 

“We view SUNY Delhi as early adopters of innovation and Swipe Out Hunger as the next phase of important relationships needed to achieve the long-term goals of the Food Insecurity Task Force,” said SUNY Associate Provost for Student Affairs, John L. Graham.

“The opportunity for Swipe Out Hunger to partner with SUNY students and leadership on a system-wide plan to address hunger is not only significant for New York but could set a precedent of action across the country,” said Founder and CEO of Swipe Out Hunger, Rachel Sumekh.

SUNY Delhi is introducing Swipe Out Hunger on campus in Fall 2019, which is the first of its kind within the SUNY system. Supported by the SUNY Chancellor and the SUNY Board of Trustees, the SUNY Delhi Food Insecurity Task Force is developing a comprehensive intervention platform of strategic partners, such as Swipe Out Hunger, to widen their existing efforts. These activities also complement other efforts, like on- and off-campus food pantries, community-based partnerships with food banks, and emergency food assistance service providers.

This launch was also supported by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Food and Anti-Hunger Policy Coordinator, Susan Zimet. We look forward to working together and ensuring the SUNY system can build on their existing efforts to address food insecurity on campus.