For too many students, the road to a college degree is filled with obstacles. This has been true for Daysi Oscatengui, a single mother and first-generation college student. Daysi immigrated to the United States from Peru 23 years ago, settling in New York where she began her educational journey with accelerated English classes at a local community college. However, the demands of raising two young children forced her to put her education on hold.
After moving to Northern Virginia to be closer to family, Daysi was determined to pursue her dream of higher education once again. In 2021, when her third child was just six months old, Daysi made a promise to herself: no matter what, she was going back to school.
Balancing school while raising three children is a huge feat, and doing so in an area with a high cost of living has meant Daysi is constantly juggling to cover essential expenses. Sometimes paying for food has come second to paying rent, which is non-negotiable.
“You have so much against you like rent, bills, high food costs, and no help with childcare” – Daysi Oscatengui
One factor Daysi credits for her success has been her enrollment in a pilot program created by the Capital Area Food Bank. With pilots on 5 campuses across the region, including Northern Virginia Community College, the food bank’s pilot program provides grocery store gift cards to eligible students. Daysi said she found out about the program when applying for other grant funding and immediately sought to enroll. Although she receives some support from federal food programs, it’s not enough to cover her full food budget. When she received her first grocery store gift card through the food bank’s program, she was relieved to know she would have enough money each month to meet her family’s needs.
“The gift cards mean I know that I will have money to feed my family every month and won’t have to worry about splitting it for other expenses,” Daysi says.
The gift cards can be used at a conveniently located grocery store, and she uses them to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods for her children. This support makes it easier for Daysi to cover other necessary expenses, like paying for the internet access that allows her to attend online classes.
Daysi is now in her final semester at Northern Virginia Community College, where her own son is also attending college. Soon, she expects to graduate with her associate’s degree in legal assistance/paralegal studies. Her next goal? Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and a career as a paralegal, a field with greater job security and higher wages.
As we continue to expand our partnerships with colleges and universities, we’re committed to reaching more students like Daysi, providing them with the resources they need to thrive in school and beyond.
Daysi will soon be sharing her story at our third-annual Regional College Hunger Conference, where leaders from higher-education institutions will gather to collaborate on solutions to student food insecurity. Her journey serves as a testament to the impact that access to nutritious food can have on a student’s ability to succeed inside and outside the classroom.