Approximately 2 in 5 college students report food insecurity, and campus food pantries are seeing sharp increases in demand. At Penn State Harrisburg the food pantry reported daily traffic up from weekly levels last year, reflecting growing financial pressure on students returning from winter breaks. College administrators are expanding pantry services, emergency grants, and on‑campus supports, but staff say needs often outpace available resources. Student‑success and retention officers warn that persistent basic‑needs insecurity undermines academic performance and may depress persistence to degree completion if campus responses remain underfunded.