Every year, more than one million college students are eligible for benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, yet more than half do not apply. Jaime Lechner, a senior political science major from Grand Island, N.Y., is looking to change that.
“SNAP information and eligibility requirements for the program aren't very clear and are hard to get, especially for college students,” she said. “I wanted to do something to notify people of the program, then provide students with all of the information they need to learn more, who to contact for help or with questions, and so on. Basically, I wanted to present the information to students in a simple way so they can understand it, and so they could act on it if they need to.”
The idea began after an advocacy trip Lechner took with Niagara University faculty and students to Washington, D.C., in 2023. The group was lobbying for the passage of H.R.309–Opportunity to End College Hunger Act, which required institutions of higher education to provide notice to students receiving work-study assistance about their potential eligibility for participation in SNAP. After returning to campus, Lechner wanted to do more.
Back on Monteagle Ridge, Lechner called state and local SNAP offices and researched the program to create a fact sheet that was designed and distributed on campus with the assistance of the university’s Vincentian Center for Justice and Katie Kocsis, NU’s director of financial aid. The colorful booklet, which contains information on who can apply, how to apply, and where to go for more information, is also included with the information that is sent to accepted students, distributed during summer and new student orientation events, and available on Niagara’s financial aid website.
Now, Lechner is expanding her efforts to assist college students throughout New York state and has drafted the SNAP for Students Act, a bill that would require the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which houses SNAP, to create a digital resource on the program that would be distributed through the Higher Education Services Corp. and all colleges and universities throughout the state.
“The idea to take action on a wider scale was something that my dad suggested to me,” she said. “He asked me why other colleges weren’t sharing SNAP information with their students, and why this information is not easily accessible and easy to understand, and I didn’t have an answer for him.”
Lechner created briefing materials that she is sending to solicit support for her bill. To date, FeedMore WNY, Feeding New York State, the Field & Fork Network, and the League of Women Voters of Buffalo-Niagara, of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties, and of Chautauqua County have agreed to support her efforts.
“I hope that I can continue to gather support for my bill from organizations across New York state,” she said. “It’s not right that in the age of technology, this information isn’t easy to get and understand.”
“Jaime's work on this project epitomizes the goals of our department and the mission of the university,” said Dr. Jamie Pimlott, associate professor of political science. “To see a student ask a question—why don't more college-age students know about potential SNAP benefits—then, independent of any class assignment, dedicate considerable time and effort not just to answer that question, but also to propose and implement a solution, is inspiring. The amount of time and determination Jaime has exhibited in this process cannot be underestimated. The fact that Jaime is not satisfied with ensuring NU students have access to this information, but is determined to have legislation introduced by the New York State Assembly and eventually signed by the governor, so that all college students in NY will receive this information, demonstrates what a keen intellect, academic training, and passion look like. I am incredibly proud of the work she has done, and I know this is only the beginning.”