A nationwide trend shows roughly 2 in 5 college students reporting food insecurity as campus food pantries and emergency programs see rising demand. At Penn State Harrisburg, pantry visits jumped sharply this fall, and staff expect further increases after winter break as students exhaust savings and family support. Colleges are expanding on‑campus pantries, meal grants and community partnerships, but administrators warn these are stopgap measures that require sustained funding. Student‑affairs teams say addressing basic needs is increasingly central to retention strategies and academic success interventions. Financial‑aid offices and student‑services leaders should integrate basic‑needs screening into advising, bolster emergency grant processes, and pursue public–private partnerships to fund year‑round food security programs.