A call for U of T to help mitigate food insecurity on campus
Food insecurity, defined by University of Toronto researchers as the “inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints,” affects 15.95 percent of households across Canada and 40 percent of Canadian post-secondary students. Although country-wide food insecurity rates have remained steady for the past three years, it is increasingly a problem for low income, BIPOC, international, and professional and graduate students at U of T —especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food insecurity can manifest in a multitude of ways, from the quality of the food being consumed, to the quantity. Students in particular are known to budget less money for food in comparison to “non-negotiable” costs such as rent and tuition, which can lead to an increase of fast food or less nutritious food in their diets. These types of changes in dietary patterns can negatively affect one’s health, possibly causing heart disease or high blood pressure in the future. However, students cannot be blamed for making such food choices when backed into a corner due to food insecurity. Furthermore, considering the recent rise in grocery store prices (especially in the produce and frozen food aisles), food insecurity is particularly a cause for concern. The question is, what can be done to lessen the impact of food insecurity in the short and long-term?
Food banks are one of the quickest ways to mitigate food insecurity in the short-term. The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) began the UTSU Food Bank in 2001 to help address food insecurity among students. After the UTSU Food Bank was shut down due to the pandemic, the U of T Emergency Food Bank was created. The Emergency Food Bank provided students with weekly food box deliveries and gift-cards for groceries. Since creation, it has delivered over 6,650 food boxes and gift-cards to 600 student households. However, the U of T Emergency Food Bank has “temporarily run out of funds” and stopped its programming for the time being.
In the long term, data on the demographics of people accessing food banks on campus, which is currently scarce, is necessary in order to tackle the root problem. The Varsity recently published an article about the benefits of recording such data, highlighting the need to make informed decisions on how to upgrade food bank services and tying the issue “to large societal inequalities.” Another avenue to help tackle food insecurity is by developing partnerships with community organizations to help fund and support food security initiatives. As of today, the U of T Emergency Food Bank has formed more than 15 solidary partnerships. Further, one of the ultimate goals is to de-stigmatize food insecurity on campus, coupled with a change in mindset about how food services should be prioritized. The UTSU recommends that U of T look at food services as “a fundamental right” rather than an “ancillary service”.
The systemic and complex nature of poverty necessitates a reconstruction of services for students, and the current system does not provide enough support to vulnerable communities. With a “chronic lack of sleep coupled with microwavable noodles” being known as the characteristic student experience, food insecurity is perpetually romanticized. Further, many food banks and other food-related services are encumbered by administrative barriers.
U of T, and universities generally, takes pride in delivering education to the next generation. This includes providing an environment where students can excel, which necessarily includes addressing student food security. Although services for physical and mental well-being have improved in recent years, there is clearly a long way to go. With the holiday season coming up and as temperatures continue to drop, take a moment and help in any way you can—whether it is through volunteering your time during winter break, donating to your local food bank or community fridge, or using your voice to push incentives to aid food security on campus.
