Just in case

The DSU's Kayla Kurin: “It’s not embarrassing to need it ... We’re all students and we all struggle with money. And we all need to eat.” (Bruce Bottomley Photo)

It’s December and the height of exam period. Your student loan cheque isn’t coming for another month and you just ran out of your last box of Kraft Dinner. So what do you do?

Fortunately, the Dalhousie Student Union has a solution. They have been running a food bank out of the Health Plan office in the basement of the Student Union Building for the past few years, and it’s open to all Dalhousie students to use whenever they need to.

The system is entirely self-serve. Students bring a shopping bag, sign in with their B00 numbers, and are free to grab whatever they need. The food bank encourages users to limit what they take to one reusable shopping bag or two shopping bags every two weeks, but understand that everyone’s needs are different and some may need to take more on occasion.

“We just ask everyone to remember that there are lots of people who need to use it,”? explains Kayla Kurin, the DSU's vice president internal.

Donations welcome

The bank is primarily stocked by Feed Nova Scotia, which drops off a shipment every Thursday. However, donations from students, staff, and faculty are always welcome. There is donation box located at the info desk in the SUB, or else students can drop off donations at the Health Plan office. Any non-perishable items are welcome, but since the food bank doesn’t get to choose what they get from Feed Nova Scotia, there is a particular need for things like baking ingredients and healthier foods. They also accept toiletry items.

Students should not feel self-conscious about using the food bank, says Ms. Kurin, admitting that there is still a slight stigma surrounding it. “It’s not embarrassing to need it,” she says. “We’re all students and we all struggle with money. And we all need to eat.”

Part of the DSU philosophy is to enhance the student experience, which isn’t possible if students are hungry, says Ms. Kurin. “If you don’t have money to eat you can’t do well in your classes,” she adds.

The food bank is open during the school year from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. It will shut down from December 21st until January 4th to coincide with the closure of the Student Union Building.

Ms. Kurin recommends anyone who needs food and supplies during that period to go directly to Feed Nova Scotia.