Cougar Food Fund Provides a Lifeline for Global Campus Students

Going to college can be financially challenging for many students, and online students are no exception. Along with the hurdles faced by students on physical campuses, online students are also often working full-time jobs, have families, are in the military, or are shouldering other important responsibilities. Especially during times of economic uncertainty, it can be difficult for those pursuing higher education to meet basic needs, including putting food on the table.

Washington State University’s fully online Global Campus has developed a solution to help students facing food insecurity: the Cougar Food Fund.

“The food fund really means a lot to our online Cougs that have a need to use it. It’s a lifeline that allows them to focus on their studies while still providing necessities for themselves and their families,” said Andria Donnenwerth, WSU Global Campus director of development. “Juggling school, finances, family, and other responsibilities can be a real challenge at times, and every little bit helps.”

The Cougar Food Fund is an initiative that issues reimbursements for grocery expenses to eligible Global Campus students in need of financial assistance. Funding for the grocery reimbursements comes from the generous contributions of donors.

The fund began in 2019, when the Global Campus student government voted to establish grocery vouchers funded through Student Services and Activities (S&A) Fees. In 2020, amid the health and economic challenges brought on by the COVID19 pandemic, Global Campus established the donor-funded program we see today.

Since then, the Cougar Food Fund has provided grocery assistance to an average of 300 students per semester, totaling approximately $5,000 to $10,000 per month, helping students access nutritious meals while reducing the burden of food insecurity as they work toward their degrees.

“By pursuing their education on their own terms, online Cougs are seeking to improve themselves, provide for their families, and improve their communities and career fields,” Donnenwerth said. “Helping one of them achieve their dreams by giving to the food fund can cause a ripple effect that changes the world for the better.”

Donnenwerth has seen the personal impact the Cougar Food Fund can have on students. Aunjelique Andersen, who graduated with a degree in Strategic Communication in 2026, knows that impact firsthand.

“There are many students at WSU Global who don’t qualify for financial assistance but still need help covering basic necessities like food. I was one of those students,” Andersen said.

“Being a student is already challenging enough, especially when you’re balancing work, family, and other responsibilities,” she said. “On top of that, unexpected health challenges can create financial strain.”

“I had just paid over $8,000 in my medical bills, which I thought was being covered with insurance and wasn’t,” she said. “So, I was stressed. Getting a little help eased that stress and pressure of having to choose between staying in school and putting food on the table.”

For donors like Mary Goodrich, supporting the Cougar Food Fund is a way to help students through difficult financial circumstances.

“I feel that giving money to the food fund helps others obtain the needed nourishment to make them successful in their college careers,” said Mary Goodrich, a WSU alumna and regular donor to the fund.

Goodrich said she feels a sense of urgency about helping fellow Cougs in need.

“No one should go hungry or be without adequate food,” she said. “One can never know when food scarcity will or can affect them. There is no timeline, no deadline, no date on the calendar circled. Students today and tomorrow are the future and we need them to be successful.”

Apple Cup Food Pantry Donation Challenge

This fall, WSU and the University of Washington are joining forces in raising money for food insecurity by hosting the Apple Cup Food Pantry Donation Challenge.

From August 23 through September 6, WSU and the University of Washington will go head-to-head in the challenge. Donations to WSU food pantry funds —including the Global Campus Cougar Food Fund —will count toward WSU’s total.

Following the Apple Cup rivalry football game on September 6, donations will be counted and compared to determine which school raised more for food insecurity. “I highly encourage everyone who has the ability to consider giving to the food fund and supporting a Coug in need,” said Donnenwerth. “You won’t regret it!”