Calgary universities seeing increased demand for food banks

Calgary post-secondary students are depending more on food banks and food security services this year due to inflation and the rising cost of living — and those running the programs are preparing for increasing use of their services.

The campus food bank at the University of Calgary has already seen demand rise by almost half, according to Naomie Bakana, vice-president internal for the students' union.

The costs of most basic items have gone up significantly.

"What would have been $200 a year ago is now $300," Bakana said. "Honestly, if we didn't have the support we have, we wouldn't be able to keep this place running. So that's really what keeps us going every year."

Bakana said the service has already had a 40 per cent increase in demand after reaching a record high throughout the 2023-24 academic year. 

With the new academic year kicking off in the coming days, she says the situation won't get any easier. 

"Students are already paying so much to be able to go to school," Bakana said. "Students are always going to need food, and that's why the campus food bank is so important."

The story is largely the same at Mount Royal University.

The students' association at the south Calgary post-secondary institution doesn't have a traditional food bank service. Instead, it offers and operates food security programs, which include free breakfasts, campus food drives and a food cupboard.

They also refer students who need longer-term assistance to the Calgary Food Bank.

"For students who can't afford to buy food on campus, it means the difference of, like, whether or not they eat in the middle of the day," said Anisa Tilston, vice-president student affairs at MRU. 

"There were at least a few students who mentioned that they ate less often because they couldn't afford to eat three times a day."

Tilston said the students' association saw significantly more demand for services last year, with some programs seeing double the demand when compared to the previous year.

While they can't necessarily predict whether or not they'll see the same need this year, she said they are preparing for it either way.