Arguments Against Student Food Bank

“There isn’t much to pick from today. Actually, every time I come there isn’t much to pick from,” exclaims food bank user after looking through this week’s stock of food at the Student Food Bank. He’s been there twice this month as a result of the bare shelves and inability to fill his quota. His second visit was not any more fruitful. As the number of food bank users is ever increasing, the food bank struggles to maintain its supplies. “Ever since we started advertising more, the food bank has gotten busier,” says staff member Jonathon Chin-fook. But there is more than just advertisement that is making the use of the campus food bank rise. Tuition fees, housing rates, and food costs continue to rise, yet student loan limits remain unchanged.

I took the food bank users through the pantry, showing them what there was, and how much of it they could take, and then logging it into the system. This food bank is a subdivision of the student federation of University of Ottawa, and anyone affiliated with the university has access to it. Professors, students, support and alumni staff all have access to this service. They serve approximately 200 people per month, with this number rising yearly. Close to 50% of the clients that come in to the food bank have dependants living with them. Most food comes from the Ottawa Food bank, with some additional individual donations. There are over 50 regular volunteers and 10 staff that are constantly looking for ways to acquire more food items, including soliciting help from local grocery stores. The food bank divides its items into categories within the “food hamper” and crucial categories often become depleted, as it is the second most trafficked food bank in the Ottawa area (Megan Gills,

As job prospects diminish and competition for work rises, students subsequently take longer to pay off their debt. Food security becomes a larger problem as tuition fees increase. Food security is not just access to food, but having “physical and economical” access to “healthy food” in an “adequate amount,” (Food Security Network). Food security affects student’s health in numerous ways. Low income households will be less likely to afford necessities such as food, clothing and housing (Dennis Raphael et al., 2010). Even without considering tuition costs, poverty in general in Canada is increasing. In a rich country like Canada, 1 in 7 people are living in poverty; the majority of these being immigrants, single mothers, aboriginals and people with mental disabilities (Canada Sans Pauvreté, 2015). One in ten Canadians cannot afford dental care or the pharmaceutical prescriptions that they need, as they are not covered under the national health care (ibid). Children raised in low socio-economic environments are at a disadvantage. Decreased social support networks also negatively impact childhood behaviours. These children are more likely to act out in public, get impatient and frustrated easily (Eric Jensen, 2009). Proper nutrition affects educational outcome as well. Malnutrition and hungry are a deterrent to affective learning, by increasing illness and lowering the student’s