Until November 3, proceeds from students who add $1 to their food bill at participating outlets in the Nest will go directly to supporting the AMS Food Bank.
To support the initiative, at specific outlets, including Blue Chip Cafe, Honour Roll, The Gallery Patio and Lounge and Porch, students will be asked whether they would like to donate $1 to support the Food Bank.
AMS Senior Manager Student Services Kathleen Simpson said this initiative is part of a long-running annual campaign between the services department and food outlets, and started in 2016.
“All the money that we raise through donations of any kind all go toward food purchasing,” she said. In previous years, the campaign has raised a couple thousand dollars and has been put toward a “rainy day” reserve fund for food purchasing.
However, the funds this year will most likely be used in the short-term, given the high demand for the service, according to Simpson.
The Food Bank is AMS’ most used service, and reported 16,253 visits in the last year. Simpson said visits in September 2023 are more than double the visits from September 2022.
“We had one of our busiest ever days in October … 370 people in one day,” she said. Her team is continuing to work toward meeting this demand and helping the community manage the affordability and food security crisis.
In the past, the AMS has lobbied the university for additional funds to maintain operations.
- AMS Food Bank to relocate to larger space amidst growing demand
- UBC announces allocation of $425,000 to food security initiatives
Some students have criticized the drive, including more than 40 comments on an Instagram post announcing the initiative. After the announcement was posted on Instagram, students in the comments criticized the initiative, arguing the affordability crisis is already taking a large toll on the community.]
“It puts the burden on the individual student,” said Christie Bernados, a member of Sulong UBC. She added that this is not a sustainable plan to address food insecurity.
She questioned why the AMS is looking to students for additional funds if they recognize that this is a financially difficult time for students.
With Sulong, Bernados is continuing to advocate for the AMS to restore UBC staff access to the AMS Food Bank. Staff access was removed in early May due to rising operation costs.
“Food is a basic human right,” she said. Bernados sees the reduced access, alongside broader food insecurity on campus, as a disconnect between equity rhetoric and action.
She said many staff members have been turning to Vancouver food banks, looking for additional support since the removal.
Simpson said she could not definitively say whether staff access will be restored in the future.
Share this article
