Food Support Services

About us

Mission

Food Support Services is a USC student services dedicated to reducing hunger among UWO undergraduate students, helping to enable the full participation of students facing barriers of food insecurity. With the rising costs of tuition, housing, childcare, and food, many students are struggling. We provide essential support to UWO students.
Our team works hard to break the stigma around being food insecure and accessing support services.
We also have campaigns and events to educate and advocate for local and global issues related to, but not limited to, food insecurity, hunger, and poverty. Our programming and services provide opportunities for student engagement, personal development, and leadership!

Vision

Food Support Services envisions a campus where students, faculty, staff, and community members can:

– Access affordable and nutritious food in a supportive and inclusive environment

– Develop awareness about local and global issues of food insecurity affecting our communities

– Be a part of a supportive, inclusive, and healthy campus

Services provided

Food Hamper (Digital Food Bank)

Food Support Services offers a one-of-a-kind Confidential Hamper Service for Western Students. Students in need can request a hamper using our online form and pick it up in a locker located in the basement of the UCC.

During the school year, our food hamper service provides students in need with a grocery bag of food for 1-2 days. Students in need can request a food hamper by filling out a food hamper request form online or visiting our office.

Requests can be made using the ‘Hamper Request’ button below. Please remember that we rely entirely on donations and that we are often not able to honour all special requests.

We will attempt to fill these requests as soon as they are sent in, and requests can be filled in as soon as 24 hours. Shortly after the hamper is filled, you have the option to pick it up from our office (UCC 258) or pick it up from a locker located in the UCC, with instructions on how to open the locker sent via email. The service is completely confidential and is run by a team of dedicated, passionate, and friendly volunteers.

Online form

Food Bank Access and Location

Our foodbank is located at our office in Room 269, UCC Building. Students are welcome to come by the Food Support Service food bank during our hours of operation to take what they need. We want to be able to serve as many students as we can, so please be mindful of what you take.

Food Bank hours are Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Extended hours are Wednesdays from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Food Support Services Donatons

While all donations are valued, monetary donations are highly encouraged since they allow us to flexibly purchase what goods and items are most needed at the food bank.

Donations are also used to purchase gift cards and donate them to students in need.

Food donations can be dropped off at our office hours in Room 269, UCC Building. For larger donations please contact us.

While all food and toiletry donations are very appreciated, the most needed non-perishable items are:

Feminine Hygiene Products
Snacks (Granola Bars, Crackers, etc)
Canned Meats & Fish (eg. tuna)
Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Peanut Butter
Beans
Cereal
Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Pasta Sauce
Rolled Oats

Please consider donating $5.00 or whatever you can offer.

Online form

Events

Food Support Services runs several events throughout the year including Restocked To Win, Free Breakfasts, and Haunted not Hungry in collaboration with USC Charity.

Check out our Facebook page for the different events that we’re running this year.

Additional services

Become a Volunteer

Food Support Services could not help the hundreds of students it has without the support of our volunteers. Volunteers are crucial in managing the anonymous food hamper service, keeping the food bank open, and running our events. It’s a great opportunity to be involved with the USC, have a direct hand in helping others, and create meaningful impact during your time at Western.

We look forward to getting to know you! If we don’t have any positions open, there will be an option to remain on a consideration list for emergency volunteers, where we may contact you to fill in to cover a shift if one of our volunteers is unable to make their shift.

We will review and launch volunteer applications at the start of each semester.

Contact

Office Location Directions: We are located on the Western University campus, at the University Community Centre (UCC), in Room 269. Once you are on the second floor of the UCC, turn left and go towards the hallway leading to the community room. We are located next to the community room and across the hall from the elevators. Office Hours Closed during the summer. Social Accounts Instagram: @USCFoodSupport Facebook: @USCFoodSupport

Please note that the hours are subject to change, and we will try our best to keep the information updated on our website.