SHU Shares
Since 2021, the campuswide SHU Shares initiative has been addressing food insecurity needs at Sacred Heart University.
Through SHU Shares, students enrolled in meal plans with swipes can contribute swipes to our meal scholarship initiative. Confidential requests made through our online portal are then reviewed and fulfilled by our approval committee. This community-based and collaborative approach has provided over 950 meals per semester to students in need thanks to student leadership, university staff, SHU Dining services, alumni and donors.
How can I receive meal swipes?
A request must be made through the SHU Shares system. All requests are confidential, and fulfillment is based on several factors, such as swipes available for donation, level of need expressed and remaining weeks left in the semester.
How can I donate?
Students with meal swipes can sign into the SHU Shares portal using their standard login information and donate swipes. As of fall 2025, student meal plans with swipes offer unlimited meal swipes. The number of donations allowed per meal plan is as follows:
| Meal Plan | Donations Allowed Per Semester |
|---|---|
| Big Red Unlimited | Up to 5 swipes |
| Pioneer All Access | Up to 5 swipes |
For those who wish to support this initiative, but do not have a meal plan, can make monetary donations online. Employees of the University can also complete the Faculty & Staff Payroll Deduction Form and contribute a tax-deductible gift from each paycheck to SHU Shares and other campus initiatives.
FAQs
Any SHU student enrolled in at least 1 credit hour is eligible for this program.
All requests will be reviewed within 24 business hours. Eligible students will have meal swipes added directly to their SHUCard and will be notified by email. Additional requests may be submitted two weeks after the initial request. The last day to request meal swipes is one week before the end of the semester.
Currently, meal swipes can be used at 63’s dining hall. For dining services hours and menus, including allergen information, visit the SHU Dining website.
No. Once the swipes are loaded onto your SHU ID, your swipe will be handled just like a standard meal swipe.
Yes. Meal swipes expire at the end of each semester once classes and finals have concluded.
Feedback is encouraged and appreciated. Recipients of meal swipes can email shushares@sacredheart.edu at any time or complete the feedback survey at the end of the semester. Your input helps inform our practices and decision making processes for SHU Shares and other student support initiatives.
Additional Resources
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP (also known as food stamps) provides individuals and families with financial benefits to purchase food. Connecticut Foodshare can provide help applying for SNAP over the phone. - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
TANF provides families with low or very low income with cash assistance to meet basic needs. - Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
WIC provides low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five with services, including vouchers that can be redeemed for healthy foods at most major grocers, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services. - Summer, after school and weekend meals for children
Various USDA-funded programs exist for children of low-income families to access food and meals after school or during the summer when school is out of session. Learn about the Summer Nutrition Program for Kids on the USDA website, and ask your school district about afterschool and weekend meal programs. - 211
United Way operates a national call center for people in need of assistance in the United States. Calling 211 connects you with an operator in the state you are calling from. You can also visit 211.org and search for resources on their website, including nutritional assistance, health services, housing support, domestic violence shelters and more.
More Information
If you have any questions, reach out to shushares@sacredheart.edu.