In fall of 2024, Western Washington University and the Washington Student Achievement Council launched the Washington Student Experience Survey. College-level students from across the state were invited to report their experiences with various insecurities around basic needs. Grays Harbor College had the highest student response rate in the state, generating more total responses than some of the surveyed 4-year colleges and universities. Out of the GHC students who responded to the survey:
- 7 in every 10 students had experienced food insecurity within the last 30 days
- 5 in every 10 students had experienced housing insecurity in the last 12 months
- 2 in every 10 students had experienced homelessness in the last 12 months
These student responses showed that rates of basic needs insecurity for Grays Harbor College students have increased significantly since the survey was conducted previously in fall of 2022. With the federal government’s recent changes to benefit programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides monthly food-purchasing assistance to low-income families and individuals, the rates of food insecurity are likely to continue to rise.
The Foundation knows that students cannot succeed in their academic pursuits if they are struggling to make ends meet to keep themselves fed and nourish their families. In order to ensure that every GHC student has access to the healthy food that they need to succeed, the Foundation provides financial support to the campus’s Harbor Landing Food Pantry, a student-led initiative to provide essential food items to students experiencing food insecurity. Each week, more than 160 students rely on Harbor Landing for staple items like fresh meat, canned fish, eggs, dairy products, rice, beans, and more. The pantry is entirely operated by GHC students who are building teamwork and leadership skills in support of their community of peers.
When SNAP benefits were paused in November 2025, due to the government shutdown, our generous local community leapt into action to provide donations of through the Foundation to keep the pantry shelves well stocked. We are proud to have such a dedicated community of neighbors who ensure that GHC students continue to have access to fresh, nutritious food to support their physical and academic wellbeing.
To support student assistance programs like the Harbor Landing Food Pantry, please visit our giving page to donate today.
Thank you for helping to keep GHC students and their families fed, healthy, and cared for!
