COLUMBIA, Mo. — Community food pantries run by students are on the increase at colleges across the nation, a sign of both the weak economy and a rise in student activism.

At the University of Missouri, students opened the Tiger Pantry near the campus in October. It has given free food to nearly 150 people and their families and an additional 100 people have expressed an interest. Food recipients include nearly three dozen graduate students and a similar number of university employees.