Program continues to see large usage by international students, family households
Photo by Gabriel Lunn.
As another academic year kicks off, many students continue to face financial strain between costs of housing, tuition, as well as groceries and basic amenities. The UVSS Food Bank, located in the basement of the Student Union Building (SUB), is one resource available to UVic students who struggle with food security.
The Food Bank recently underwent renovations to improve its layout, as well as printed information about food hamper access to better support students who face food insecurity.
Renovations to the Food Bank occurred during the first half of August, during which time the space was closed. Updates include a new coat of paint, the removal of one refrigerator and installation of an additional electrical outlet, as well as a discontinuation of the free store program, which Rowan O’Malley, Food Bank Officer says will improve shelving and food safety concerns within the space.
The Free Store program offered drop off donation items such as books, clothing, and small amenities, which users could take at no limit.
In a statement emailed to the Martlet, Laila Casado, Human Resources and Administrative Services Manager for the UVSS, said that the increase in use of Food Bank by students meant both staff capacity and space became limited, making it difficult to manage the Free Store permanently. Casado noted that many donated items to the Free Store were not found to be useful for students.
Going forward, the UVSS plans to host targeted donation drives for specific items that are more useful for students, such as winter jackets, kitchen utensils, or small household items. The new approach serves to review donations and promote the initiative directly to students who need them.
Removal of the Free Store allows for another section — four shelves — to be used for items such as bread, personal hygiene products, as well as laundry detergent. Increasingly over the past years, students have requested additional space for fresh produce, which needs to be stored overnight in refrigerators to maintain quality.
“A large part of it was that we wanted to focus on what had already been the priority,” said O’Malley. “[We’re] making the space as efficient as possible and [want] to maximize the amount of people and appointments we can see at once… In general, we want people to walk in and feel welcome and have a good understanding of the space.”
O’Malley also cited concerns with signage of available products in the space, including hamper lists with detailed food types and quantities permitted. The same forms are being reprinted in multiple languages, given the number of patrons who speak English as a second language.
“We find we help a lot of international students and people from family housing who come from different countries. The level of English proficiency does vary sometimes, [so] we want to be sure that everyone, no matter what, can access this space.”
As stated on their website, the food bank serves over 400 eligible UVic students on a confidential basis, almost exclusively by appointment.
“It helps us manage and keep track of how many people are coming in every week,” said O’Malley. “Knowing those numbers helps us account for how much food we should be ordering with our budget along with what we receive from other programs. We find the appointment system does help the most people access at once.”
The UVSS Food Bank does not receive any direct funding from UVic. Instead, it has its own internal budget provided by the UVSS through student fees. The Food Bank is supported by paid Food Bank Officer positions, as well as a team of volunteers.
In 2024, the Food Bank provided 14 810 food hampers. Of those, 36 per cent were for individual students, whereas 64 per cent went to students with dependants.
Almost half of the hampers were for patrons who access the Food Bank every week. Only six per cent of hampers were given out to those to access services less than once a month. Of the hamper pick-up appointments made, 81 per cent were collected by international students.
Priyanka Lopez, a masters student at UVic in the Department of Social Work, is a new user of the Food Bank. “I feel like it’s super essential,” said Lopez. “I never felt comfortable going to [food banks] before. I came to Canada as an international student…. What pushed me to come today is my financial situation, which is usually precarious.”
“It took me some time to navigate the space, but it’s very nice how everything is labeled and laid out,” she said.
In addition to fresh produce, bread, and shelf-stable food items, the Food Bank also provides personal hygiene supplies and menstrual products. Donations are welcomed, and can be made at the donation box outside of the Food Bank at SUB B005, however, the Food Bank requests notice prior to donations of large quantities of items.
“I was happy with what I got,” said Lopez. “I was surprised by the amount of food I was able to get, especially fresh food… It’s great because it’ll get me through the week.”
