Rachel Engler-Stringer, associate professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, and her team at the University of Saskatchewan conducted research about food insecurity among Canadian students and found that “39.5 per cent of students were food insecure to some degree”. Among London students, it may be hard to spot, but students who struggle to find their next meal exist to a higher degree than some may think. 
The Food Support Services is a student run organization at Western University that offers a food bank for students. Coordinator for Western’s Food Support Services, Selina Phan, says that students are often scared to admit their struggles around other students.
“I definitely do think that there is a stigma around needing to use the food bank. A lot of students come in to the food bank and they’re really shy or quiet and they don’t really feel comfortable.”
She insists that the food bank is a safe place where students won’t feel judged.
“I’ve been really trying to help our volunteers intake them in a very welcoming and exciting way, to walk them around the food bank and show them where things are and to kind of treat it almost like a grocery story where they just don’t have to pay at the end.”
Stocked with a variety of items such as beans, pasta and even toilet paper, the service is free of charge for any student. Students can also donate to the food bank in an effort to help their fellow classmate.
