Trent University Durham GTA students, faculty and staff showed their community spirit as they hosted a food drive on campus from November 13 thru 30 in support of Feed the Need in Durham. This year’s campus food drive marked the first year that the event took the form of a CANstruction event as the non-perishable food items were built into a holiday house structure in the University’s front atrium to help draw awareness to the campaign.

“It is very exciting to see how fellow students have come together to donate to the community,” said Katie Cassin, Trent Durham Student Association vice-president of Campus Life. “Our campus clubs and groups foster a great responsibility to help the community we live in, and to see all of them come together to donate to a cause that has such a widespread impact across the region, makes all of us very proud to be part of the Trent Durham community.”

Over the two-week collection period an impressive 667 pounds of food was donated to the drive. Adding to the success of the campaign, the campus Library team offered a Food for Fines program that enabled students to pay existing library fines with non-perishable food donations.

“It is fantastic to see our youth and future leaders engaged in activities to raise awareness and resources to help alleviate hunger in their community,” remarked Robyn McKibbon, Feed the Need in Durham outreach, event and volunteer coordinator. The first Trent CANstruction food drive was a huge success both visually and through collective impact.”

Feed the Need in Durham is a regional food distribution warehouse that serves approximately 60 emergency food providers across the Durham Region. Food banks, soup kitchens, community service centres, shelters, breakfast programs and more depend on the perishable and non-perishable items distributed by Feed the Need in Durham. On average they serve 6,500 individuals each month, 40 per cent of whom are children.

“The holiday season is a time when we are celebrating with family and friends, a time for thankfulness and reflection. It is also a time to think about those who have a little less, and those who are facing empty cupboards at home,” said Ben Earle, executive director of Feed the Need in Durham.

All items were delivered to Feed The Need in Durham on December 4. The students who had the opportunity to visit the warehouse facility were impressed by the size of the operation and the commitment of the organization’s volunteers.

Participants look forward to seeing the CANstruction project grow in future years. To learn more about Feed the Need in Durham or to support this valuable organization, visit feedtheneedindurham.ca.