March is Women’s History Month, and to celebrate we’re putting the spotlight on some of the amazing women in the Food For Free community this month. It’s also Nutrition and Hydration week, so why not double up on celebrating women and raising awareness for nutrition-based issues in our community?

Today we’re celebrating Molly Hansen, Senior Program Manager of Heat-n-Eats at Food For Free and a champion for student food and nutrition security. 

Molly’s journey began in Tucson, AZ, where she attended the University of Arizona. Here, she first encountered food insecurity among her peers, specifically those who came from undocumented families. Inspired to make a difference, she connected with a group of students to start a campus pantry that has since grown into a valuable resource for students there, complete with a rooftop garden and walk-in freezer. 

But Molly’s passion for food justice didn’t stop there. She pursued a Master’s degree at UMass Amherst in Higher Education Administration, where she focused her studies on how basic needs insecurity impacts college students and their ability to persist and graduate. Her thesis explored the sustainability of college-run food pantries and best practices in the creation and management of basic needs resources. As the co-chair of the Graduate Student Senate Food Security Committee, Molly worked with a group of undergraduate UMass students to open a completely student-run, nonperishable food pantry. 

Upon graduation, Molly was hired to tackle the challenge of opening the first food pantry at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC). What began as a small operation in a single room became a vital resource for students with multiple campus locations, thanks to Molly’s dedication and innovative ideas that she was able to bring to fruition. She introduced a grab-and-go system featuring Food For Free Heat-n-Eats meals, snacks, and rescued food. This system provided students with easy access to nutritious meals, alleviating their worries about where to eat while they were on campus all day. 

The Heat-n-Eats meals have had a significant impact on student food and nutrition security. They provide a convenient, nutritionally-balanced and free option for students, many of whom had limited access to affordable eateries around campus. The meals are particularly beneficial for students with families, who appreciate the convenience of not having to prepare meals while still being able to feed their children nutritious food. 

Molly acknowledges that she faced numerous challenges in her work to increase campus food security, including funding limitations and, up until more recently, a general lack of acknowledgement of campus food insecurity by universities. However, she persevered and has made significant strides in raising awareness of campus hunger and being a part of the solution to that problem by providing options and removing barriers of access for students. 

What Molly would like people to know about campus food insecurity is that it is a growing issue that requires tailored solutions. Every campus and student population is different, and there is no “one size fits all” solution.

“At a school with a robust dining hall program,” Molly explains, “it may make more sense to focus on reducing the cost of meal plans or offering an emergency meal swipe program versus opening a food pantry. Oftentimes, undergraduate residence halls do not have adequate kitchens or cooking supplies, so opening a food pantry with items that need to be prepared would not be as helpful.” 

“However, at a community college with an incredibly diverse student population and no on-campus housing options, a food pantry is a great way to provide important meal staples for students to prepare at home. This also provides an opportunity for college food pantries to provide unique items that other community resources may not be able to offer, such as culturally-relevant food items, diapers, hygiene supplies, etc.”

After four years at BHCC, Molly joined our team in summer 2023 excited to deepen her work in hunger relief. At Food For Free, Molly continues to make a meaningful impact by running the Heat-n-Eats program that touches the lives of students and other community members across eastern Massachusetts.

Molly’s personal experience working with student food insecurity affects her approach in her role at Food For Free. Seeing students facing hunger firsthand makes her work much more intentional and meaningful in a way that feels real to her. She has hopes of continuing to build close partnerships with both food donor partners and recipient organizations to deepen the impact of the Heat-n-Eats program in the community.

Outside of her work in food security, Molly enjoys practicing yoga, reading, and trying out new recipes. You can often find her watching Gilmore Girls (which inspired her love of New England) with her cat, Barbie. 

Our Heat-n-Eats program is looking for new food donors. If you are interested in learning more, please contact molly@foodforfree.org.

We’re thrilled to have you on our team, Molly. You’re a rockstar!