Recent talk helps students find ways to take action on food insecurity – on and off campus

70 students, staff and faculty recently gathered in Moulton Hall to discuss this question and more at Food (in)Security, an event aimed at sparking a conversation with students about food security, and how they can engage on this issue.

What can students do to take action on food insecurity on campus and in the Hamilton community?

70 students, staff and faculty recently gathered in Moulton Hall to discuss this question and more at Food (in) Security, an event aimed at sparking a conversation with students about food security, and how they can engage on this issue

Hosted by the McMaster Community Poverty Initiative* (MCPI), the event brought together a range of speakers to talk about the work they do – both on campus and in the community – to advocate for food security and to share ideas about how students can participate.

“At our event last year, the feedback was that students really wanted to know how they could get involved in what’s already happening on campus to address food insecurity and how people can either volunteer or access the resources and services that are available,” says Sashaina Singh, coordinator with MCPI and McMaster’s Office of Community Engagement. “So the goal of this event was to provide them with that opportunity.”

During the event, four speakers discussed their experiences, perspectives and advocacy related to food security including Juby Lee, project manager, Environment Hamilton who highlighted a number of initiatives currently underway at her organization and in the Hamilton community such as the Good Food Box program, the Hamilton Pollinator Paradise Project and Greenbelt protection initiatives intended to help preserve farm land.

Speakers also included Hannah Philip from Mac Bread Bin who spoke about the many services offered by the MSU to help provide fresh food to students and to support students in need including Lockers of Love, the Food Collective Centre and the Mac Farm Stand. Christine Yachouh, sustainability coordinator at Hospitality Services, talked about their efforts to increase the availability of healthy food for students including gluten-free options and offering more culturally appropriate foods. In addition, Yachouh spoke about Second Course, a partnership between Hospitality Services and the MSU that distributes extra, same-day, baked good to students.

Taryn Aarssen, from the Student Wellness Center spoke about Food for Thought, a series of classes offered by the Centre that provide opportunities for students to learn about food preparation and how to cook healthy, affordable and delicious meals.

Co-chair of MCPI and associate professor in McMaster’s School of Social Work, Stephanie Baker Collins, hopes that hearing from those involved in food security will encourage students  to find ways to engage on this issue.

“Food security is an important part of student’s lives and there are students who are actively involved in campus and are undertaking initiatives,” says Collins. “We have students who are trying to form a community garden on campus, students who are looking at how hospitality services might change the way they deliver food, and students working directly on other student’s food insecurity like Mac Bread Bin. So we’re looking to help students get active in these issues because they impact their lives and can help give students a voice.”

For more information about how to get involved in advocacy on food security, contact macpovertyinitiative@gmail.com.

McMaster researchers are also engaged in the area of food insecurity. Watch video featuring Associate Professor and Chair of McMaster’s Department of Anthropology, Tina Moffat’s research project, which was designed and conducted in partnership with Neighbour to Neighbour, a Hamilton organization that helps to support those who either can’t afford – or don’t have access to – healthy food.

*The McMaster Community Poverty Initiative is supported by the McMaster Office of Community Engagement.

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