Student Food Insecurity Resources in London and Surrounding Areas

What is Student Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity occurs when a person has uncertain or inadequate access to food due to financial constraints. Food insecurity can affect students in their daily lives but it can also have long-term effects on physical, social, and psychological development as well as learning outcomes. Hunger creates a barrier to development and success in multiple aspects of life.

Who is Affected by Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity has been on the rise in Canada since the start of the pandemic. While household income and food insecurity levels are tightly linked, it is also affected by other factors in the household. Students are also often adversely affected by food insecurity. The rate of food insecurity in post-secondary students is reportedly higher than that of the general population. A study in the fall of 2021 showed that 56.8% of post-secondary students in Canada were affected by food insecurity. Further, food insecurity disproportionately affects students who belong to minority groups. View a full report on the state of student food insecurity in 2021.

Food Insecurity Resources

The following resources provide information on how to get help with food insecurity.

• Fanshawe Student Union - The Sharing Shop
• London Food Bank
• Information London Meal Calendar
• Southwest Healthline Food Banks and Community Food Programs
• London Good Food Project
• Huron County Food Bank
• Oxford County Emergency Food Services 
• Health and Social Services Haldimand Norfolk
   

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Help People Affected by Food Insecurity

If you’re looking for ways to donate your time and money to help students experiencing food insecurity, we’ve put together the following list of organizations accepting donations and volunteers.

• Give to the Sharing Shop
• Middlesex London Health Unit
• Be the Change London
• London Food Coalition
• Coalition to End Poverty

Fanshawe also has a variety of support services available to help meet student needs. View additional support services at Fanshawe.