11-14-2025 4:03am

TU Teams Up

Community Partnerships and Gaming Lounges Supporting Student Food Security

Aramark Collegiate Hospitality is supporting partner campuses across the United States with innovative programs to support 4 million students who are experiencing food insecurity.

Initiatives include creative hub SocialBitesat at The University of Alabama, and expanded partnerships with Goodr, Hungry Harvest, and Too Good To Go at Towson and Virginia Commonwealth University.

From gaming lounges that support campus pantries, to meal swipe donations, food recovery efforts, and expanded community partnerships, these community-driven solutions help students access nourishing meals—no matter where they study.

The University of Alabama

This fall at The University of Alabama, Bama Dining has transformed student engagement into a force for good with the launch of SocialBites. At SocialBites, students can relax, connect, and enjoy interactive games, including pool, foosball, golfing simulation, driving games, pinball, and claw machines.

But there’s a deeper purpose behind the fun: a portion of the proceeds from every gaming card purchased goes directly to the UA Student Pantry. This means that every game played helps support food security right on campus.

“Social Bites is more than just a hangout spot—it is a mission-driven initiative shaped by a focus on community,” says Bruce McVeagh, Bama Dining’s District Manager. “SocialBites reflects our belief that every student deserves access to healthy food, community, and support. We’re proud to be part of a campus culture that cares deeply and acts boldly.”

SocialBites is just one component of Bama Dining’s ongoing commitment to student well-being.

Bama Dining hosts a Family Weekend Silent Auction featuring hundreds of items generously donated by business owners from across the country. Last year, this event raised over $10,000 to help stock the pantry and support students in need.
Through Bama Dining’s Coffee Program, faculty, staff, students, and guests can purchase a refillable, branded mug that can be used at campus coffee shops for $1 refills. For every mug sold, $2 is donated directly to the UA Student Pantry.

Towson University

Tiger Hospitality at Towson University also adopts a multifaceted approach to increasing food security. Through strategic partnerships and by combining technology and direct support, the program aims to support students and reduce food waste at the same time. 

Meal Swipe Donations: Tiger Hospitality donates 500 meal swipes per semester to the university, which are distributed to students in need.
Food Recovery Network: Excess prepared foods are donated through the Food Recovery Network, helping redirect meals to those in need. Each week, around 300 lbs. of food are donated.
Food Hub Support: Food Insecurity Funds are used to provide essential items and equipment to the on-campus Food Hub.
External Partnerships: Tiger Hospitality partners with Hungry Harvest to supply fresh produce to the Food Hub, as well as collaborating with Too Good To Go to offer surplus food at reduced cost at the end of daily service, reducing waste and increasing affordability.
24/7 Autonomous C-Store: Tiger Hospitality operates a fully autonomous convenience store that’s open 24/7/365, ensuring consistent access to food and essentials.

California State University, Sacramento

Hornet Hospitality continues to deepen its commitment to California State University, Sacramento through a wide range of partnerships and initiatives that support student well-being, food access, and campus engagement.

As a result, Hornet Hospitality has made food access a central focus of its campus collaborations. Through the Meal Swipe Donation Program, students can donate one meal swipe per semester.

The Hornet Harvest Gathering, launched in Fall 2023 in collaboration with ASI Food Pantry and other campus partners, has become a highly anticipated annual event, distributing 500 grocery bags filled with fresh produce and other pantry items.

Additional efforts include:

Epicure Extras: A mobile app notification system that alerts students to free leftover food from catered events, reducing waste and providing nourishment in real time.
Hornets Hour: A program offering reduced-price meals during designated hours at multiple campus dining locations, designed to improve affordable meal access for all students.

Virginia Commonwealth University

According to Virginia Commonwealth University, one in three VCU students face food insecurity. To address this, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality’s VCU Dine recovers surplus food from campus dining locations and redirects it to students in need:

Ram Fridges: VCU Dine staff identify unsold, single-serving meals from Market 810 and other dining locations, which are then repackaged and placed in refrigerators located in high traffic areas across campus known as “Ram Fridges”.
Goodr Partnership: Aramark coordinates food collection and redistribution through Goodr, resulting in 105 meals served and 125 lbs. of food redirected to those in need.
Too Good To Go: VCU Dine offers surprise bags of surplus food at discounted prices via the Too Good To Go app. From March to May 2025, VCU Dine sold 261 bags to 77 users of the app.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) at the U.S. Department of Education suggests 23 per cent of undergraduates, and 12 per cent of graduate students representing 4 millions Americans are experiencing food insecurity.National Postsecondary Student Aid Study – NPSAS:20. Eight per cent of undergraduate and 5 per cent of graduate students are also reported as experiencing homelessness.