UPEI campus food bank use up 25%

Demand at the UPEI campus food bank is up by about 25 per cent compared to the same time last winter, say food bank officials.

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They believe the increasing cost of food may be a factor, but acknowledge more students likely know the food bank exists because it has been better promoted.

"Food is more expensive. And I find that as more and more students know we're here, it's almost victims of our own success if you can say that," said UPEI's campus minister Sister Susan Kidd, who helps operate the food bank.

"You can tell by the amount of food that we're buying, the amount of food that is going, that there is a greater need."

This is traditionally a busy time of year at the food bank, Kidd said, because students' budgets are stretched after paying all the fees due in January.

UPEI has given the food bank some help this year, too: it's paying a student five hours a week to do outreach.

"So we've seen because of her work, more people know we're here as far as donations and more people know we're here as far as responding to their needs for food," said Kidd.

The biggest need at the food bank is for pasta and sauce, bread, canned meat products and healthy soups.

Donations of money are often used to purchase meat.