Overview
The Unified Support Centre’s (USC) Emergency Essentials Assistance Program provides students in need with hampers of food, personal hygiene items, feminine hygiene products, and safer sex supplies through a tiered, needs-based system with both pick-up and delivery options. We support both undergraduate and graduate students, ensuring that every individual has access to essential resources.
Before the pandemic, the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) Food Centre processed an average of 88 hamper requests per month. We now provide over 500 hampers monthly to the Carleton community, demonstrating the growing need for this vital service.
Each hamper is designed to support a student for at least a week, covering essential food and other necessities. However, the rising demand has far outpaced the contributions we receive from the Ottawa Food Bank and other community sources, forcing us to make significant supplementary purchases to maintain this service.
Currently, we face a particular challenge: meeting the specific dietary needs of our diverse student population. Many of our clients require gluten-free, vegan, halal, or allergen-free options that are more expensive and difficult to source. We urgently need your support to ensure we can meet these dietary restrictions and continue to provide every student with safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. Your contribution will help us bridge this gap, ensuring that no student is left behind, regardless of their dietary requirements.
The Background
At Carleton University, the Unified Support Centre (USC) provides essential food hampers to students through our Emergency Essentials Assistance Program. However, like many food support services across Canada, we are facing unprecedented challenges. Food banks nationwide are struggling to keep up with soaring demand due to inflation, supply shortages, and reduced donations. The Ottawa Food Bank, which has been a key partner, has had to reduce its support to us as we are categorized as a food cupboard serving a smaller demographic of students.
This reduction in support has left us with a growing gap between the food we can provide and the specific dietary needs of our student population. Many students require gluten-free, vegan, halal, or allergen-free options, which are both more costly and harder to source. Despite serving over 500 hampers each month, we are unable to fully accommodate these dietary restrictions with our current resources.
The USC’s Emergency Essentials Assistance Program is dedicated to supporting students experiencing food insecurity during their academic career.
The Rollout
The funds raised will be crucial for enabling the Unified Support Centre to purchase foods that meet the specific dietary needs of our student population through the Emergency Essentials Assistance Program. With the Ottawa Food Bank reducing its support due to our smaller, student-focused demographic, it’s critical that we can continue providing for students in need. Your donations will help us sustain the program by ensuring the longevity and sustainability of the program.
The Impact
The impact of this campaign goes beyond simply providing food—it’s about ensuring that every student at Carleton University has access to essential resources that meet their unique dietary needs, promoting both well-being and academic success.
By raising the necessary funds, we will directly address this gap. Your support will enable us to purchase the specialized food products students require, ensuring that no one is left out due to dietary restrictions.
The lasting impact of this initiative will be felt in the Carleton community as we create a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment. With proper nutrition, students will have the energy and peace of mind to focus on their education and personal growth, making a positive difference both academically and in their broader campus experience.