RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- More than one-third of all food in the U.S. is lost or wasted, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), an on-campus initiative is working to change that — while also tackling food insecurity among students. Ram Pantry and Fridges, a program dedicated to repackaging unused food and redistributing it to students in need, has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the USDA. The funding, which will be spread over three years, aims to reduce food waste and improve access to nutritious meals. According to a recent VCU study, approximately 35% of students—about 10,000—struggle with food insecurity, meaning they lack consistent access to enough food to support their health and well-being. “In a lot of ways, VCU is really a small city,” said Jones, an assistant professor in the Center for Environmental Studies, which is part of VCU Life Sciences. “We feed thousands upon thousands of people every week. Anecdotally, in my experience working here for years, I’ve seen a lot of food waste. Food that goes into the trash is really wasteful, [especially] when you consider how many VCU students deal with food insecurity.” John Jones, the faculty advisor for Ram Pantry, says the grant will allow the program to expand its reach and resources. One of the key initiatives includes working with an engineering team to install food waste sensors in dining hall bins to track which foods are being discarded most often and in what quantities. The data collected will help the university adjust its meal planning and repurpose unsold food more efficiently. “There’s this assumption that as soon as you turn 18 and go off to school, you’re suddenly able to support yourself. And that’s just not the case,” Jones said. “If you’re food insecure in K-12, you’re likely going to be food insecure in college.” Ram Pantry currently operates three locations across VCU’s campus, each stocked with a refrigerator and a pantry for non-perishable items. With the additional funding, Jones says the program hopes to expand its offerings and make a greater impact in reducing student hunger. "Working to try to ensure all our students have nutritionally dense food that's going to fill their bodies and give them what they need to be successful, both in the classroom and in life is incredibly important," Jones said. The Ram Fridges are located inside of the Cabell Library, the Cary Street Gym and the lecture wing of the Trani Life Sciences Building. VCU said these changes are expected to begin near fall of 2026. For more information, visit VCU’s website. ...read more read less