Imagine walking out of an evening class tired, hungry, and knowing you can actually find real food on campus instead of racing off to the nearest drive-thru. That is the future the Henry Ford College Student Council wants to create, and they are asking every student to take a few minutes to help make it real by filling out a new food survey that was emailed to your HFC account.

After conducting a campus-wide feedback survey last fall and through everyday conversations, the Student Council began to notice a consistent concern: current food options are not meeting the needs of all students, particularly those on campus later in the day. With roughly 3,000 students attending afternoon and evening classes, the need for more accessible and reliable options throughout the day became increasingly clear.

“Our goal now is to turn that feedback into action and work toward solutions that make campus more supportive for students throughout the entire day,” said Richard, Student Council president.

For the council, this is not just about snacks. Food is a basic part of student life. If you are hungry, it is harder to focus, participate in class, or stay on campus between lectures and labs. Many HFC students commute, work jobs, or have family responsibilities on top of school; better food options could make time on campus feel less stressful and more supportive. “If we have better food options for everyone, it will increase morale and build community,” said Iman, Student Council Communications Liaison. “This is for every single person who identifies with this institution.”

Student Council has already been putting in the work. They have met with campus leadership, including Interim President Dr. Lori Ganko, and connected with Continental Services, a food vendor that serves major universities like the University of Michigan and Wayne State, as well as hospitals and businesses across the region. Continental specializes in 24/7 self-service micro-markets stocked with fresh meals, healthier snacks, and grab-and-go options restocked several times a week. “They have come out here to campus, scouted out locations, and right now we are in the process. We are at a crossroads where we need to demonstrate the need formally,” Richard said.

The goal is not to replace what HFC already has, but to add more choices and better access for students on campus outside current hours. There is even potential for the college to help subsidize pricing through the new vendor, so the cost does not fall entirely on students who are already balancing tuition, books, and everyday expenses.

Student Council also sees better food access as a way to build more connections at a commuter school. People naturally bond over a meal or a cup of coffee. If there are more spaces and more times of day when students can sit, eat, and talk, it becomes easier to meet classmates outside of the classroom. When you are in the same place regularly, you start to recognize faces, learn names, and feel like you belong. The Student Council believes that improving food access, especially in the evening, could help create exactly that kind of environment at HFC.

To move forward, the Student Council needs 1,000 survey responses, roughly 10% of the student body, before they can present a business plan to college vice presidents and the Board of Trustees. The survey takes just five minutes, covers your experience with current food options on campus, and your responses are completely confidential.

As a bonus, you can enter a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

If you want better food at Henry Ford College, your voice needs to be part of the response. Check your HFC email for the survey link, or go directly here:

https://hfc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cGsql6sPvi0IcAe

Let’s get to 1,000.