During these challenging economic times, many families and individuals, including postsecondary students across Ontario, are facing rising costs of living that make it difficult to afford the necessities of life, namely food. Food insecurity has become a significant challenge for many students, especially for international students who are often not eligible to access community-run food banks.  

Food insecurity is a leading social determinant of health and safety that not only has direct impact on physical and mental health, but also can affect academic performance. Students who are undernourished are not able to focus and may find it difficult to make the most of their educational experiences.  

Lower educational achievement can, in turn, reduce job opportunities upon graduation, leading to lifelong implications for students when economic hardship diminishes a student’s ability to study because they are hungry. 

In response to this provincial-wide issue, my students in the Policing and Community Well-Being (PLCW) program at Trent Durham, in partnership with our Office of Student Affairs and the Trent Durham Student Association, are taking a leadership role in building a community pantry for current students registered at the Durham campus.  

The community pantry will provide students experiencing food insecurity with access to non-perishable food and personal care items to help offset the economic burden caused by the cost-of-living crisis.  

The TDSA and Student Affairs developed a governance structure and working committee that includes the PLCW program and Trent Durham students, to create the community pantry. The idea came about through discussions during the summer, with work happening throughout the last two semesters to launch the initiative. 

Social inequality and the impact of economic marginalization is prominently discussed in the PLCW program, particularly in courses such as Social Determinants of Health and Crime and Community Problem-Solving.  

As part of the experiential learning opportunities in the program, students are repeatedly asked to find novel solutions to community-based issues, such as food insecurity. When we learned that people in our campus community may be facing food insecurity, it was a natural fit for my students to step up.  The pantry initiative is an extension of PLCW’s commitment to giving back to the community.  

Food is a basic human right, and it is our job as a campus to do our part to reduce food insecurity. Our community pantry is one way we can provide access to food for students in need. I am thrilled with the generosity our students have shown through their donations and this is evident of just how special Trent Durham is. 

Learn more about the Policing and Community Well-Being program at Trent Durham.

This article, penned by Trent Durham Professor, Dr. Amy Spendik, originally appeared in Durham Metroland.