Demand at food bank for Western University students doubles
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The idea of students going hungry at Western University isn’t generally talked about or associated with the prestigious university, says one student council official there.
Jenna Lam, food services support co-ordinator for the University Students’ Council at Western University, left, and Cameron Cawston, vice-president of student support and programming, work at a food bank for students run by the student council. Student visits have doubled in recent months, they say. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press)
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The idea of students going hungry at Western University isn’t generally talked about or associated with the prestigious university, a student council official says.
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But Cameron Cawston, University Students’ Council vice-president of student support and programming, said demand at the food bank run by the students’ council has soared to more than double the normal usage in the last few months.
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“We may not hear about it, but that’s because we are not talking about it enough,” she said. “The fact that we are hearing about it (more now), it should be a red flag for us that this is something students need.
“It’s time for us to listen.”
Cawston said more students are turning to the food bank because of rising tuition and the spiraling cost of groceries and housing.
“It’s a sensitive topic to talk about, but there has been about a two-time increase in the service,” she said. “It’s not just something that we are just seeing (personally), we are able to track it through data.”
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Using the food bank staffed by volunteers in the basement of the University Community Center is “completely anonymous,” Cawston said.
Students can walk in and grab what they need, she said. Or they can fill out a form online for a hamper they can pick up by using a code provided for a locker.
“Not everybody might feel comfortable coming into the centre,” Cawston said. “Empowerment is huge thing we are trying to focus on at the food bank to support our students.”
The food bank is expecting an increase in usage next month as the holidays near and students are writing final exams.
And it’s not just students who are hit hard by food insecurity.
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The number of London families seeking help at the London Food Bank is up 30 per cent, hitting a record level of more than 4,000 households a month in September. Many are first time users.
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Rising food costs and unbearable rent are at fault there as well, officials say.
Western’s food bank offers non-perishable items such as pudding, canned meat and fish, canned vegetables and fruit, starches such as rice as well as feminine hygiene products and products for babies such as diapers.
“We’re happy here at USC that we can meet students where they are at,” Cawston said.
Although funded by the students’ council, the food bank also accepts monetary donations to allow it top up supplies. For more information visit https://www.westernusc.store/product/fss-donation.
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