Caitlin Grogan, SRC president, and Mackenzie Keir, SRC vice-president social, pick up food items for the new food bank at UNB Saint John. (Submitted)
UNB Saint John students who need a snack or a few meals have a new place to go.
The student council recently launched a food bank thanks to a grant through the Rising Youth program.
Mackenzie Keir, vice-president social, says they know food insecurity is a problem in the student community.
“We know on our campus specifically, the cost to go get lunch is very expensive if you didn’t bring something from home,” said Keir.
In addition to non-perishable food items, the food bank also has grocery store and Chartwells gift cards, school supplies, and feminine hygiene products.
Keir said they want all students at the campus to feel comfortable coming to them if they need help.
“Maybe you’re not coming from a place where you need to go to a food bank, maybe you’re there that day and you forgot your wallet and you don’t have money,” she said.
Recent studies have shown that nearly 40% of university students experience some form of food insecurity. 7.5% of…
Posted by UNB-SRC on Saturday, February 23, 2019
Keir said they also long-term solutions if students need even more help. She said they have heard a lot of great feedback from students, faculty and staff.
“We’ve had a lot of people reach out to us saying it’s a great initiative … it’s something that should have been there anyway, we think,” she said.
If you are interested in making a donation, you can drop it off at the student council office or send them an email.
Follow
