Giving Tuesday – MSVU Foodbank

Food insecurity among our nation’s postsecondary students reflects what’s happening in the whole of society; research shows food insecurity is quickly becoming one of Canada’s major health issues impacting both physical and mental health. And we know that university students are more susceptible to hunger than the general population. Research conducted on campuses across the country has found that up to 40 per cent of post-secondary students in Canada are food insecure. Students facing food insecurity are more likely to struggle academically and less likely to stay in school.

Today, every university in Canada – MSVU included – has a food bank on campus. The MSVU food bank is operated by the university’s Students’ Union and a dedicated team of volunteers.

Important partnerships and generous donors are playing a part too.

In 2020 and 2021, MSVU partnered with the J & W Murphy Foundation to enhance campus initiatives in support of students facing food insecurity. The J & W Murphy Foundation matched all donations received up to $4,000 as part of what is known as “Giving Tuesday.” The campaign raised over $10,000 which went directly to fund student food support services.

Cheyenne Hardy, a fourth year Child & Youth Study student, is the MSVU Food Security Volunteer Coordinator. She sees the true impact of these gifts first-hand. “Our job is to make it as easy as possible for the Mount student community to have food so they can focus on their education,” says Cheyenne. “In my volunteer role, I see daily the difference we are making in the lives of those who need it most.”