At Chico State University’s campus pantry, students can get free groceries, which are donated or purchased by the university at a reduced price. They can also find out if they’re eligible for CalFresh.
Credit: Jessica Mendoza/The Christian Science Monitor

CHICO, CALIFORNIA — Anthony Hiseley was determined to stay in college without turning to his family for support.

His mother, an at-home nurse who cares for his ailing sister and stepfather, couldn’t afford to fund his education. So Mr. Hiseley relied on a combination of financial aid, federal loans, and what jobs he could snag through the year to pay for tuition, rent, and food. His sophomore year, he sold his car to pay his bills. He would order water when his friends went out to eat. Finally, he made a habit of missing not only breakfast, but also lunch.

“I would skip meals until 4 in the afternoon,” says Hiseley, a health services administration major at California State University, Chico.

Then, his junior year, his university helped enroll him in CalFresh, California’s version of […]