New study on campus foodbank useage

By Вen Li

A first of its kind survey of 46 Canadian campus food banks has found that students facing financial hardship often require help meeting dietary needs.

The survey was conducted by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and the Canadian Association of Food Banks and concludes that cost of education and student debt are a primary reason behind food bank usage. Campus HungerCount 2004 cites Canada Student Loans Program statistics that show undergraduate students who receive student loans have an average annual unmet need of $3,500, while graduate students’ loans fall short by $6,500.

“[Students are being forced to scrimp on, and sometimes forgo, food purchases because they cannot secure the funds they need to provide themselves and their families with adequate nourishment,” according to the survey. “The implications of a poor diet are worth further investigating as a determinant of student population health.”

The authors suggest that increased federal post-secondary education spending would reduce food bank use among students, but admit that such usage is already in decline nationally. However, according to University of Calgary Students’ Union Vice-President External Mike [Bosch], campus food bank use in on the rise at the U of C due to increasing student debt.

“We’re doing so many things right now to expand the food bank, with three new freezers,” he said. “The turnover [in food] is so high, we’re working extra hard to get the shelves filled. Demand is going up on a year to year basis.”

The Campus Food Bank supplied 230 food hampers to 613 individuals in 2002-2003. Eligible recipients included students, staff, faculty, and some alumni.

Students comprised 9.1 per cent of all Canadian food bank users in 2001, 9.6 per cent in 2002, but only 3.4 per cent in 2003. Nationally, 3,121 food bank users were reported in March 2004. Eight of the nation’s 51 campus food banks are located in Alberta. Five campus food banks did not participate in the survey.