Tessie Sanci
News Reporter
With a significant increase in the number of students needing food, the Humber Students Federation food bank program will begin to offer fresh produce next month.
The program is a confidential service at Lakeshore and North campuses and provides food items to students in financial need.
HSF is excited about its plan to offer fresh fruits and vegetables, said Kristen Arcega, the Lakeshore vice-president of administration.
Chris King is a first-year student who has used the HSF food program since September.
The initiative started last December, but was postponed because of logistical issues including the program moving to the K building from the H building at Lakeshore.
In the meantime HSF met with the farmers providing the fresh produce and consult with students to see if there was an interest, she said.
A first-year multimedia design and production technician student, Chris King benefits from the food program and likes the fresh food initiative.
“Having some of the essentials covered or taken care of by the students’ federation makes things easier,” said King.
He said assistance with groceries means he can focus more on school.
King is part of an increased number of students who depend on the program this academic year.
Last year, there were 45 students using the program at both campuses, said, HSF services director, Sieu Moi Ly.
Now the number has risen to 75.
HSF accepts applications from students needing the program throughout the school year so the numbers can vary.
Applicants usually get approved with in two to three business days, said Arcega.
The economic downturn and the growing number of mature students are probably some reasons for the increase, said Ly.
“We do have a lot of mature students who are enrolling, meaning that they have families and that they’re more in need, creating a larger demand on our system in that sense,” she said.
“In that event, there’s one parent less to provide for in the family household so that could be a contributing factor as well.”
The North York Harvest Food Bank helps the program by providing most of its non-perishable food.
In 2009, the food bank distributed 640 hampers of food at Humber, said senior manager of the North York food bank, Daniel Liadsky.
“That was just over 12,000 pounds of food and that’s just our contribution,” he said.
Holiday food drives and fundraising efforts by HSF, students, staff, and faculty also help, said Ly.
