Students Combat Food Insecurity with Innovative Initiatives

As tuition and living expenses continue to rise, many university students are facing challenges in maintaining a healthy diet. At Wilfrid Laurier University, innovative programs are being implemented to combat food insecurity among students. These initiatives not only provide essential food resources but also foster skills in urban agriculture and cooking.

The **Food Justice Garden**, a collaboration between Martin Luther University College’s Centre for Earth Consciousness and Gender Justice and the Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG), offers students a chance to engage in sustainable agriculture. Initially aimed at supporting Indigenous students, this initiative has expanded to help all students learn about food production while addressing hunger on campus. The garden includes ten container gardens and a greenhouse that yield a variety of produce, including squashes, tomatoes, and herbs.

To ensure students have access to fresh food, the **Free Weekly Distro** operates throughout the year as a grocery pop-up. According to **Tavia Weber**, Distro program and Luther’s development manager, students simply need to present their Laurier student card to select the items they need without having to prove their financial situation. Last year, nearly **6,000 students** took advantage of this service. In addition to providing food, the Distro began offering recipe cards and cooking seminars to help students enhance their culinary skills.

Comprehensive Support for Food Insecurity

The **Students’ Union** at Wilfrid Laurier also offers several initiatives aimed at alleviating food insecurity on the Brantford and Waterloo campuses. Their food bank distributes parcels of non-perishable goods and hygiene products, which can be tailored to meet dietary preferences and restrictions. Students can request up to five parcels during a **12-week term**, with discreet pick-up options available for those concerned about stigma.

In addition, the university has implemented an emergency hot meal program that offers dining hall credits to students in severe need. **Maria Gonzales**, vice president of programming and services at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, highlighted the importance of additional food resources, mentioning monthly events such as a fresh food market where students can collect vegetables and fruits.

For students eager to develop their cooking abilities, the Brantford campus has created a cookbook featuring accessible recipes, while Waterloo is exploring the idea of producing cooking videos.

Students Share Cooking Tips and Experiences

For many students, mastering the art of cooking is a crucial skill that can lead to significant savings. **Jaycob Linnamaa** and **Shively Holland**, both final-year undergraduates, emphasize the importance of cooking for budget management. Linnamaa noted, “It does bother me a bit how many people I’ve encountered in university that don’t really understand the basics of cooking.”

Holland, who taught himself to cook prior to university, believes that preparing meals at home saved him thousands after leaving residence halls with meal plans. He and his roommates often cook in bulk, using various herbs and spices to diversify their meals. “Because I have several roommates, and they all have pretty different tastes, there are lots of chances to make different things,” Holland said.

Both students participate in the **WatSFiC** (Waterloo’s science fiction and fantasy club), organizing soup nights where they share the cooking responsibilities and split ingredient costs. They often collaborate on recipes, sometimes bringing individual ingredients to create dishes together.

In addition to their personal cooking endeavors, Linnamaa and Holland advocate for the importance of budgeting when it comes to food. Linnamaa pointed out that purchasing ingredients for a home-cooked meal can often be more economical than opting for fast food. “I could buy the ingredients to a decent steak dinner at the grocery store for the same cost as getting a fast food burger,” he stated.

As students navigate the challenges of university life, programs like the **Food Justice Garden** and the **Free Weekly Distro** provide essential support, ensuring access to nutritious food while equipping them with valuable skills for the future.