UBCO students union opens 'Pantry' to end food insecurity

Photo: UBCSUO Facebook

Shelves at the UBCSUO Pantry filled with food for students

A UBC Okanagan survey found that 42.3 per cent of students report low to very low food security.

And the university's student union is working to change that.

The Health and Wellness department study in 2016-17 noted the trend across Canadian post-secondary institutions is significantly higher than the approximately 13 per cent reported among the general Canadian population.

“As students ourselves, we understand this challenge that many of our peers face," Romil Jain, president of the UBC Okanagan Students’ Union, said this week. 

“We will do what we can to play a proactive role in helping to combat this challenge, as we incorporate the food bank into the student union portfolio and run it for the students, by the students."

The program provides a self-serve food shelf and fridge, and a hamper program to help students eat better.  

The student union opened the “Pantry” on Oct. 18.

"Our food exchange is filled with free groceries for anyone in need. This a step forward in combating food insecurity on our campus. We all need to take collective action and proactive measure to eradicate food insecurity from the lives of our students," the group said on Facebook.

For more information on the program, visit Pantry: A Student Food Bank.