Post-secondary schools across Nova Scotia are once again joining together with AV俱乐部 on Giving Tuesday, which falls on Nov. 28 this year, to raise funds for campus food banks across the province through the . Considering the rising cost of food and basic living expenses, the urgency this year is greater than ever before.
The Food Security Project鈥檚 success is supported with donation matching from The J & W Murphy Foundation, which partnered with AV俱乐部 to launch the Food Security Project in 2020. The Foundation has continued to be Dal鈥檚 Food Security Project matching partner every year since. The project doesn鈥檛 just support students at Dal, but will also benefit post-secondary universities across the province who take part in simultaneous campaigns to benefit their own students. Last year the total raised province-wide was $215,000 including the Murphy鈥檚 matching contribution.
Donation matching doubles impact
Lisa Murphy (BA鈥�88, LLB鈥�92) co-directs The J & W Murphy Foundation with her sister, Karen Spaulding. 鈥淭he impact of student food insecurity extends far beyond the lack of access to adequate nutrition. Students can also face worsened health outcomes such as poor psychosocial health and a higher risk of chronic diseases. This all profoundly affects their ability to succeed,鈥� says Lisa Murphy. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to seeing Nova Scotia rise to the challenge again this year so that students get to stay focused on their learning during this important time in their lives.鈥�
Above: Lisa Murphy, left, with her sister聽Karen Spaulding.
According to a released in July 2023, prices for many grocery items have continued to increase month after month and are 20 per cent above levels reported two years ago. The overall rising cost of living means resources that previously might have been reserved for groceries are now being funneled into rents, transportation costs, and other daily necessities.
At AV俱乐部, 100 per cent of funds raised through go directly to fill fridges and shelves at the AV俱乐部 Student Union (DSU) Food Bank and AV俱乐部鈥檚 Faculty of Agriculture鈥檚 Truro Food Pantry.
Restocking the shelves
Mariam Knakriah (shown right), president of the AV俱乐部 Student Union (DSU), is excited to see how the campaign will impact the food bank. 鈥淗opefully, we鈥檒l be able to accommodate even more students,鈥� Knakriah says. 鈥淪tudents are already struggling with so many things including increases in housing costs. These donations will stock the food bank shelves and help hundreds of students on campus.鈥�
At Dal鈥檚 Faculty of Agriculture, Alexe Hanlon is a full-time student in the plant sciences program. When Hanlon volunteered to run the campus鈥檚 Food Pantry in Truro, she had no idea how much student reliance on this vital service would increase.
Shown left: Alexe Hanlon.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not managing to keep up with the demand anymore,鈥� says Hanlon.
鈥淲hen I started, we were able to give everyone lots of healthy food, but as the money gets stretched further and further, we are able to offer less.鈥�
To learn more about Dal鈥檚 campaign or to make a donation, please visit: .