The Food Security Project

Story

Food Security on Campus

For students, access to affordable and nourishing food is never a given. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing affordability crisis, up to 40% of postsecondary students reported experiencing some form of food insecurity.

Food prices have now increased by more than 15% in just the last two years, with nutrient-dense products becoming more and more inaccessible to budget shoppers. To make matters worse, the overall rising cost of living means resources that previously might have been reserved for groceries are now being funneled into inflated rents, transportation costs, and other daily necessities. And many students work multiple jobs just to make ends meet, which doesn’t leave much time or energy for sourcing healthy meals to feed their minds and bodies.

Fortunately, Dalhousie students have access to on-campus resources like the Dalhousie Student Union Food Bank and Agricultural Campus Food Pantry. But steadily increasing demand means that these services require more and more funding to adequately meet the needs of the student population. The student-run DSU Food Bank in particular has seen a 40% uptick in usage, to the point that they have had to shift from a drop-in to appointment-based operating model.

That’s why the Food Security Project is back again this Giving Tuesday, to connect students with reliable access to good food at a time when it’s badly needed. 100% of Food Security Project proceeds go to stocking shelves at the DSU Food Bank and AC Food Pantry.

Be a part of the movement. Double your impact.

Now in its third year, the Food Security Project has grown to a true province-wide movement, with communities across Nova Scotia rallying to meet the urgent needs of postsecondary students. We at Dal are proud to have spearheaded this effort with our friends at the J & W Murphy Foundation.

Thanks to the foundation’s matching support, gifts from individuals up to $20,000 will go twice as far again this year. That means your contribution can have double the impact.

We’ve exceeded our goal for two years running, and our objective this time is to bring in over $60,000 for student food security. Together we can ensure Dal and King’s students have reliable access to nourishing food when they need it. Help us get there and show students you care.

If you would like more information about this campaign please reach out to Clare MacDermott at clare.macdermott@dal.ca. To mail a cheque please send to the Office of Advancement, 6389 Coburg Road, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 2A5.