Sodexo will partner with the nonprofit Swipe Out Hunger to launch a program that will establish a “Meal Swipe Bank” for Creighton students experiencing food insecurity.

Sodexo will provide two free meals for every full-time meal plan sold.

Additionally, Swipe Out Hunger’s “Swipe Drive” allows students to donate unused meal swipes to their peers facing food insecurity.

“In the coming weeks Swipe Out Hunger will work closely with local Sodexo staff and a ‘host office’ on campus to set up the swipe bank system,” said Leila Costa, Senior Manager of Sustainability at Sodexo Universities. “It will be up and running by the beginning of the spring 2020 semester.”

Creighton is one of 13 campuses that will pilot the program.

Costa said that Sodexo selected these colleges “based on existing interest and capacity to support the launch of this type of a program.”

Swipe out Hunger and Sodexo staff will determine eligibility for the program based on the needs and resources on each individual campus.

In a press release, company leaders spoke out about the issues of food insecurity.

“This program is the first large-scale program of its kind within the food service industry and we know it will make a significant impact on students’ lives and their overall well-being,” said Rachel Sumekh, Founder and CEO of Swipe Out Hunger. “We’ve learned to never underestimate the power of a meal swipe.”

Sodexo and Swipe Out Hunger have also committed to protecting student privacy, and have stated that the donated meal swipe cards will look the same as students’ standard meal plan cards.

According to a statement released by Sodexo and Swipe Out Hunger, students from other universities pioneering this program shared their thoughts on the potential impact of the program on the student population.

Miriam Demasi, Swipe Out Hunger student leader at West Virginia University, talked about the importance of students engaging in conversation about food insecurity.

“Not only are students more connected to their peers on campus,” said Demasi, “But they’re also best positioned to advise on how to reach even more students with additional supportive resources, like the Meal Swipe Bank that Sodexo is supporting.”

Sodexo has estimated that the partnership will result in more than 25,000 free meals annually, and around 2,157 at Creighton University.