“It could have been a disaster,” says Manager of the Student Success Centre, Amy McEvoy. When the Student Centre sustained widespread damage overnight on Friday, December 9, the building was immediately closed.
For the Community Food Room, that meant no access to the fridges for storing perishable food and no location for students to book food pick-ups.
Ready to help: The team prepares to welcome students to the Outdoor Winter Market.
But there was a food delivery scheduled for first thing Monday morning, and dozens of students rely on the on-campus food bank as part of their weekly food security.
That’s where the team’s quick thinking kicked in. “It was all about how do we make sure we continue to serve our students,” says McEvoy.
The Student Success Centre team was determined to keep its support service operational. They turned the challenge into a “cool” opportunity and created the first-ever, Outdoor Winter Food Market instead.
The cold weather was a blessing, keeping the perishables at a safe temperature, while students previously engaged in the service were invited for an open market pick-up in lieu of the regular pick-up appointment process. The Winter Market saw more than 85 students attend and ensured that none of the food from that delivery went to waste.
The on-campus food bank is happily back in the Student Centre, which has since reopened. In collaboration with Feed Nova Scotia, the Community Food Room works to improve food security, food equity and food literacy by offering access to safe, nutritious and personally acceptable foods in a welcoming environment. The support is available year-round and sees approximately 100 appointments every week.
If you are a SMU student experiencing food insecurity, visit the Community Food Room for more information on how to access this support.