SHU Shares
SHU Shares works to address and bring awareness to the food insecurity needs within our Sacred Heart University community.
Through SHU Shares, contactless donations can be made to students in need, who may make confidential requests online. SHU Shares strives toward inclusivity on our campus and helps to remove the stigma associated with food insecurity. Established in 2021, the program works to address long-term needs through a community-based approach in collaboration with student leadership, University staff, SHU dining, alumni and donors.
How Can I Donate?
Donations can be made during the spring semester starting February 1, 2025.
Donate a Meal Swipe
Each semester, SHU Shares will host a donation campaign, which will allow our students on meal plans with meal swipes to donate to this cause. Students can participate by clicking the “Donate Meal Swipes” button on this page during the donation period. Donations can also be made from any mobile device via scannable QR codes, which can be found across campus.
- Only meal plans with meal swipes qualify for donations at this time
- Donated meal swipes are deducted from the student meal plan
- Donations are voluntary and students can choose to donate any number of meal swipes from one to as many as are listed for your plan
| Meal Plan | Donations Allowed Per Semester |
|---|---|
| Premium | Up to 15 meal swipes |
| Big Red | Up to 10 meal swipes |
| Pioneer | Up to 5 meal swipes |
Other Ways to Donate
For those who would like to support the fight against food insecurity at SHU but do not have an on-campus meal plan, monetary donations are welcome. Donations can be made online or by using the faculty/staff payroll deduction form.
How Can I Request Meal Swipes?
All requests are confidential and are granted based on meal swipe availability. Participation in SHU Shares will not impact financial aid or scholarships. Meal swipes may be requested in increments of 5-20 meal swipes at a time and can be requested beginning January 13, 2025.
FAQs
Any SHU student enrolled in at least 1 credit hour who does not have a SHU meal plan is eligible for this program.
All requests will be reviewed within 24 business hours. Eligible students will have meal swipes added directly to their SHU card 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 May 10, 2021.
No. Once the meals are loaded onto your SHU ID, it will swipe just like a standard meal plan.
Currently, meal swipes can be used at 63’s dining hall all day or Linda’s during the meal swipe exchange hours of 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Yes. Meal Swipes expire at the end of each semester once classes and finals have concluded.
Please do! A follow-up feedback survey will be provided after accessing the meal swipes. Your input is greatly appreciated and will help us to make improvements to the program.
Additional Resources
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP (also known as food stamps) provides low-income families with benefits (on a card similar to an ATM debit card) to be used on food - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
TANF provides low- and very-low-income families with cash assistance to help 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, afterschool and weekend meal and supplemental food “backpack” programs
These USDA programs give low-income children access to nutritious foods when school is not in session; programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by local organizations, including hospitals. - Soup kitchens, food banks and pantries
Soup kitchens and congregate meals are free or donation-based; food banks partner with local nonprofit organizations to distribute food to families, seniors and other individuals in need
More Information
If you have any questions, reach out to shushares@sacredheart.edu.