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For many hungry students the annual Feed A Need program can be a life saver. Literally.

Feed A Need, now in its fourth year at Long Beach State, is an aid program that allows students to donate one meal to fellow students who might not have access to healthy meals. The program provides meals for food insecure students in Parkside, Beachside and Hillside dining halls throughout the semester.

Last semester, Feed A Need generated a record 1,700 meals, according to Kenneth Kelly, director of the .

“It’s a no-brainer for students to do,” Kelly said. “It seems most of them have done volunteer or charity work in high school and are willing to help.”

Volunteers will be in all three dining halls Monday through Wednesday collecting donated meals. Students who do not have a meal plan, can help students through the Tapingo App and choose the “Student Emergency” option to donate.

The Forty-Niner Shops also matches the first 300 meals donated to the effort.

Food insecure students can receive free meals by filling out the application found on the To ensure confidentiality, all meals are placed on the student’s ID card.

Feed A Need was started in Spring 2015 and 1,353 meals were donated with another 300 from the Forty-Niner Shops. Kelly said he thinks last semester’s total will be exceeded.

“It’s incredible how we are able to provide meals for students through the generosity of other students,” he said.