Hunger Solutions Institute at Auburn University

06/16/2026

The Hunger Solutions Institute is excited to be in Washington, D.C., for the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities Summer Meeting.

Dr. Alicia Powers, Managing Director of the Hunger Solutions Institute, is representing Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) at this year's event. Through PUSH, we are proud to serve as a sponsor and to partner with urban serving universities from across the country.

We look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations, sharing ideas, and building partnerships that advance food and nutrition security and strengthen communities.

06/16/2026

Since 2014, Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) has brought together university leaders from around the world in a shared effort to address hunger and poverty.

Powered by its student counterpart, Universities Fighting World Hunger, PUSH works to advance food and nutrition security and support the vision of zero hunger campuses, communities, and nations.

To learn more, visit https://hsi.auburn.edu/programs/presidents-united.php

06/15/2026

Meet the Team Monday!

Jacob Howell is an undergraduate student at Auburn University seeking a degree in Agricultural Business & Economics. He is a part of the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, joining the Hunger Solutions Institute in the summer of 2026. He is working with Dr. Kaitlin Fischer to address the issue of labor shortages found by small-scale farmers in Alabama’s Black Belt across the food value chain.

Outside of working with the Hunger Solutions Institute, you can find Jacob listening to music or riding his bike. He likes to listen to new music while trying out new recipes to cook for his friends at a monthly dinner.

Favorite Auburn tradition: War Eagle Run Fest
Unpopular opinion: Classical music is the best workout music
Favorite Quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

06/11/2026

Don’t miss your chance to receive Alabama SUN Bucks! Learn more below.

Don’t miss out! If you haven’t received Alabama SUN Bucks, it's not too late.
You can still apply by Aug. 15 (find the online or a paper application at alabama-sunbucks.com) or contact customer support for assistance by calling 1-800-443-3536.

06/09/2026

Access to healthy food can help transform a community.

When communities have access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food, the impact reaches far beyond nutrition. Strong food systems support local businesses, create and sustain quality jobs, improve health outcomes, and help communities thrive.

That's why the Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative is working to expand food access, create economic opportunities, and help revitalize communities across the Delta region.

To learn more, visit: https://hsi.auburn.edu/programs/delta-healthy-food.php

06/08/2026

Meet the Team Monday!

Anna Coan is an Auburn University student and a rising senior who plans to graduate in December with a degree in Marketing. She is passionate about communication and building meaningful connections. Through her academic experiences and involvement in her community, she has developed a strong interest in social media, marketing, and content creation. Anna hopes to use her creativity and communication skills to help organizations engage their audiences and share their mission.

As a Communications and Marketing Student Assistant at the Hunger Solutions Institute, Anna supports marketing and outreach efforts that raise awareness about food insecurity and promote the Institute’s mission. This role allows her to combine her interest in communication with her desire to serve others. She enjoys helping share the work of HSI and supporting efforts that address hunger across communities. Anna brings creativity, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude to her work each day.

Outside of school and work, Anna enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and giving back to her community. She loves meeting new people, building relationships, and creating memorable experiences wherever she goes. Through her work, volunteer involvement, and everyday interactions, Anna strives to make a difference and continue learning along the way.

Favorite Auburn Tradition: Rolling Toomer’s Corner after an Auburn win
Unpopular Opinion: Cookie dough is better than baked cookies!
Favorite Quote: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

06/03/2026

The Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative is helping build a stronger food system across the Delta region. Established in 2024 through a partnership between Auburn University Hunger Solutions Institute, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Wright Food Solutions, Delta HFFI supports food retailers and supply chain partners through financing opportunities, technical assistance, and networking support. By investing in local food systems, the initiative is working to expand access to healthy, affordable food and create lasting community impact. 💚

To learn more, visit: https://hsi.auburn.edu/programs/delta-healthy-food.php

05/28/2026

Healthy food incentives are not just good policy, they are good business.

Retailers participating in Add Milk saw:
• $2.13M in SNAP milk sales
• Excitement from customers
• Strong engagement across stores

One participating Add Milk retail store manager shared:
“A lot of customers have been coming to our location who are new, because they heard of this program through family, friends, or social media. We have had many customers say they have been drinking more milk in the morning, because they are able to take advantage of this program. They love coming to our location and being able to not only take milk but also buy items for free with the incentives they earned!”

The chart below shows sustained growth in milk sales over time. 📊

Even more telling: stores report new customers and stronger community engagement. Public health and retail performance can and should work together. To learn more, visit: https://aub.ie/AddMilkReport.

This finding is based on a report by Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute on the initial rollout and implementation of Add Milk from May 2023 – Dec 2024. Add Milk is a USDA-funded pilot program designed to increase the purchase and consumption of milk among SNAP households. By the end of Dec 2024, Add Milk was operational in 612 stores, 9 retailers, and 13 states, using both coupon-based incentives and automatic discounts at the point of sale.

05/25/2026

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 🇺🇸

Their courage will never be forgotten. Wishing everyone a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day.

05/22/2026

We are so proud to see former Hunger Solutions Institute teammate Dr. Sara Gonzalez featured in this segment on accessible home gardening. 🌱💚

Dr. Gonzalez has always brought passion, creativity, and heart to everything she does, and this feature is such a great example of using outdoor spaces to make wellness, independence, and gardening more accessible for everyone.

Be sure to check out the full story and see the impact she is making!

Bonnie Plants has over a century of experience in the horticulture and consumer gardening industry, and they use that expertise to keep gardneing accessible, approachable, and successful for the everday consumer. Serving home gardeners through its national reach and supporting programs in schools, B...