Food Drive taking place on campus in lead-up to exams

Mount Allison University, in partnership with the Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU), has established a student food bank on campus this semester.

The food bank, located in the Mawita’mkw Gathering Space on the first floor of the Wallace McCain Student Centre, seeks to provide all students in need with basic food products as well as feminine hygiene products and essential toiletries. Students are able to access supplies in confidence during building hours.

Patty Musgrave, Mount Allison’s Indigenous Affairs Co-ordinator, is one of the founding organizers of the new resource on campus. Working with the MASU and the University’s Indigenous Student Support Group, Musgrave says the program is being piloted this semester and is available to all students in need.

“Poverty and food insecurity are realities for some post-secondary students,” says Musgrave. “In speaking with students across campus, we identified that there is a need for this resource and have worked with the MASU to collect donations and monitor uptake.”

The student food bank is always accepting donations of non-perishable food items and feminine hygiene products and toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, body wash or soap, laundry soap, dish soap). Organizers are holding a campaign in November and December to increase donations in the lead-up to the holidays. Donations can be dropped off at the Mawita’mkw (room 130, first floor of the Wallace McCain Student Centre) during building hours. University departments and other organizations are also invited to collect items in their offices.

“We’re encouraging all members of the University community who are able to consider making a donation to this student resource right on our campus,” says Musgrave. “If we can help our students out in this way as a community it helps alleviate an essential need for them.”