Feed the Future

No student should have to choose between learning and eating.

That’s why Brookdale proudly supports Feed the Future, a statewide campaign raising philanthropic support for food pantries and nutrition centers at New Jersey’s community colleges. Here at Brookdale, students can turn to resources at the Caroline Huber Wellness Center and Nutrition Hub for nutritious food, household essentials, and personal care items—free of charge and with dignity.

Food insecurity remains a serious barrier to higher education. According to a recent Hope Center #RealCollege survey, 39% of New Jersey community college students reported experiencing food insecurity within the past 30 days, echoing national trends. The Feed the Future campaign ensures students have reliable access to food so they can remain focused on learning and achieving their goals.

The challenges are even greater for students from low-income backgrounds. In FY24, 28.7% of all degree-seeking Brookdale students were Pell Grant recipients, and data from Brookdale’s 2025 Basic Needs Survey shows that Pell students were significantly more likely to underpay rent or utilities, miss class due to transportation barriers, or drop courses because of mental health challenges. Even one student in need is one too many.

At Brookdale, we believe that when we build systems for those facing the most barriers, we improve the experience for everyone. Access is not a privilege, it’s a promise. And when we design with equity in mind, everyone benefits.

With community support, Feed the Future will fight food insecurity and ensure every Brookdale student has what they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. All donations are tax-deductible through the Brookdale Community College Foundation and will directly support food access programs that keep students nourished, focused, and ready to thrive.

The campaign also provides a simple, direct way for community members to make a difference. Contributions are being collected through Spotfund, where donors can choose Brookdale Community College and know their support will go directly to programs such as the Nutrition Hub. These funds will ensure students have access to nutritious food, groceries, and essential household items, all provided free of charge and with dignity.

👉 Support Brookdale students today by donating here: Support Today

Prefer to donate by check? Please contact the Brookdale Community College Foundation at Foundation@brookdalecc.edu

Feed the Future: Fight Student Hunger is part of the NJCCC’s Opportunity Agenda, which reflects New Jersey community colleges’ commitment to student success by addressing barriers outside the classroom. By helping to meet students’ basic needs, this initiative strengthens pathways to academic completion, workforce readiness, and lifelong opportunity.

This campaign builds upon a successful pilot launched on Giving Tuesday 2024 with the American Association of Community Colleges. Today, Feed the Future expands that effort statewide, ensuring every New Jersey community college student can access the holistic supports they need to thrive.

About the Future Alumni Support Team 

The Future Alumni Support Team’s mission is to raise philanthropic support for post-secondary education to lift students from low-income backgrounds out of poverty and eliminate the need for life-long government assistance. Founded by Princeton University alumni Dr. Matthew Carabasi and Jim Rafeedie, FAST envisions a future where students—especially those at community colleges—can pursue education free from food insecurity and its impact on graduation rates. To learn more, visit https://www.futurealumnisupportteam.org/. 

About the New Jersey Council of County Colleges 

The New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) supports New Jersey’s 18 community colleges and the more than 230,000 students they serve annually across 49 locations by fostering collaboration and developing solutions that expand access to college, promote equity and student success, and create a skilled workforce to drive economic growth. To learn more, visit https://www.njcommunitycolleges.org/.