CINCINNATI — While classes have wrapped up at universities across Ohio, a growing number of college students are still faced with worries about how they will avoid going hungry this holiday season.

 “Even though the semester has ended, and the teaching has ended for the semester, the need has not ended,” said Daniel Cummins, the associate dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Cincinnati’s main campus in Clifton. “We are open during semester break. Not all students have a home to go home to. “

His office provides everything from food to professional clothing for job interviews to cleaning supplies, feminine hygiene items and diapers for students who have children.

The Resource Center’s Joy Kostansek said the needs are different for every student:

“Food insecurity does not look the same for any two people,” Kostansek said. “So we have state size students, international students, undergrad, graduate. A lot of our students are parents, so they have their own kids that they’re coming here with. And there’s really no two people that are going through the same situation, which is why we try to have a very broad range of resources.”

She said UC is also a resource to other schools in Ohio and across the country. Kostansek has just been named to the advisory board for Swipe out Hunger, including a $3000 award for her work:

“As a thank you for their advisory members, they (Swipe out Hunger) sent those checks out, and it’s going to go straight to stocking these shelves. Everything we have here is funded through donations, so contributions like that are very, very helpful.”

To help support a growing need.

“We started in 2016 with 20 or 30 students. Now, this quarter alone, we served over 1800 students,” Cummins said. “It’s a growing reality. It’s a growing problem, but we’re here for students to be successful.”