WASHINGTON – School is in full swing, but in the U.S., millions of students are suffering from food insecurities, many not knowing where their next meal will come from.

Now there’s a bill that could change that, which was introduced by Burbank Congressman Adam Schiff in August. 

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While he may be busy leading the House Intelligence Committee on the impeachment inquiry, it’s not stopping the congressman from working on several pieces of legislation. He introduced the Food for Thought Act which is gaining support from community college students, like Jermaine Jackson, a junior at Montgomery Community College in Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. 

“There were certain times where I did have problems buying food,” said Jackson. 

Montgomery is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation and has several food pantries across its campuses. 

“Nowadays, we can’t function without food in our bellies,” said Jackson. 

Jackson is welcomed by Kim McGettigan, or Ms. Kim, as the students call her. She helped expand the food pantry across campus four years ago. The school’s first pantry came around 20 years ago to the Rockville location.

“It’s just that little bit of help,” said Ms. Kim. 

Ms. Kim restocks donations every week and every semester, she teaches professors how to look for signs of a student in need. 

“Because students won’t come out and tell you ‘I haven’t eaten in two days’. When I have students come into my office that’s why one of my questions, is ‘When was the last time you ate?,” said Ms. Kim.

Here, the administration says over 50 percent of the students struggle with food security. This reflects students all across the nation.

In California, nearly half of the Golden State’s two million community college students have suffered from some form of food insecurity in just the last year, according to a survey by Philadelphia’s Temple University. 

“All of these shelves were completely full less than a month ago,” said Ms. Kim.

Congressman Schiff is hoping the Food for Thought Act can help. It would authorize $6 million a year for a pilot investment to create grants that would help provide free meals to the nation’s community college students. 

“Sometimes the students come in, in tears, because they come in and don’t believe they’re getting these things for free,” said Ms. Kim.

Jackson said a bill like that could help millions, especially those who have to juggle work, family, and school. 

“Financial aid doesn’t kick in until the end of the semester, so here and there, I just come here to see if they have gummies, ramen noodle packs,” he said. “Or just water or just crackers, something to just get me through the day, until I get home.”

Schiff wants to build this bill off the successful ‘free and reduced lunch system for K-12 schools,' as there are no similar programs that exist for community colleges. The bill is referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Montgomery College is pushing for a new movement called the ‘Fuel for Success Campaign.’ The school want to move beyond the food pantry with other initiatives like distributing meals directly to students all across its three campuses and hopes to serve as a role model for other colleges.

The administration said it started trying to expand about two years ago with the Student Health and Wellness Center for success, or SHAW. The initiative is intended to better the students’ physical and mental well-being. 

As for Jackson, he’s working towards a mechanical engineering degree while studying music.