This month Carleton’s Food Centre served 40 hampers of food to students who did not have the means to properly feed themselves. These are students in your classes, probably working part-time jobs, but can’t afford to eat.
The use of these emergency food hampers has increased 148 per cent over the past two years, according to numbers provided by co-ordinator Sarah McCue.
The Food Centre is funded by Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) which covers operation costs, and the food is almost entirely provided by the Ottawa Food Bank. This year, the centre received a $500 fund from CUSA that they use to supplement the supplies they get from the food bank.
We can do better.
Currently the university does not provide any food or monetary donations to the Food Centre, which focuses not only on feeding students in need, but also teaching them about healthy eating and food sovereignty.
Although one-time emergency funds are available for students, it is clear that this is an ongoing and increasing issue that requires more investment from both the university and the Carleton community as a whole.
Food is a basic necessity and when students can’t feed themselves, they also aren’t able to pull the long hours to write an essay or study for their midterm or ace a final exam.
The demographic of students are changing and with it, the socio-economic background of students varies. Not all students can afford their tuition, much less their rent or food, and even if they can, it might just be a difficult month.
We need to reject the stigma surrounding food banks and start supporting the Food Centre.
So go volunteer, or take in your egg cartons, or take your non-perishables in when you leave for home over winter break, and support students in need and the Food Centre.
