Learn more about our
Food Bank Program

Facing hunger or serious financial pressures? Apply for and redeem a $25 food certificate up to 3 times per semester. Intended for students in a state of need, this student-run service is funded primarily by donations and student fees. Apply here with only your student number for confidentiality.

Staff at the SFSS Student Centre will prepare a sealed envelope containing the Emergency Food Bank Program Certificate, with only your student number visible. The envelope will be ready within 5 business days of request submission. To pick up, simply let the Student Centre Staff know that you have an envelope to pick up, and provide your student ID card. Staff will cross-reference your student number with the prepared envelope – no names and other identifiers will be recorded.

You may then redeem your certificates at one of the locations described above. At the till, the cashier will also check your student ID card for the correct student number – no information will be recorded. The Food Certificates, valued at $25, may be used towards the purchase of food items only.

Questions? Contact studentcentre@sfss.ca

Upcoming Events

The Food Bank Research Project is a $20,000 project that is jointly-funded by the SFSS and SFU, with the goal of improving the Food Bank Program for SFSS students. The cost of the Food Bank Program has risen to an unsustainable level, without evidence that it is solving the problem it seeks to address. The project aims to ensure the program is effectively and efficiently meeting the food security* needs of students.

The goals of the project are as follows: 1) to assess SFSS student food security; and 2) to put forward a recommendation to the SFSS Board of Directors for the redevelopment of the Food Bank Program. The project will also develop a summary of food resources in and around the SFU community that offer a complement to the program.

In order to receive student feedback on this project and on food access challenges and barriers generally, there will be a series of roundtables and focus group events with SFSS and FIC students in March and April 2019. In order to better assess food security at SFU, SFSS staff are also creating an online household food security survey for all SFU undergraduate students that will be released in Summer 2019.

The first roundtable event to discuss student food experiences was held on March 12, 2019 on Burnaby Campus. These student consultations will help the SFSS redevelop the Food Bank Program to better serve our members.

*Food security, as defined by the UN Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.

Eligibility

All Undergraduate students at SFU in need can apply for the SFSS Food Bank Program for a maximum of three times per semester.

Voucher pick up and redemption

Your food bank vouchers can be redeemed at the following locations:

  • Nesters Market (SFU Burnaby)
  • Safeway Surrey (SFU Surrey, 10355 King George Highway)
  • Nesters Woodwards (SFU Woodwards)

At the till, the cashier will check your student ID card for the correct student number – no information will be recorded. The Food Certificates, valued at $25, may be used towards the purchase of food items only. Should your cart value exceed $25, you may use your own funds to make up the difference.

Alternative Community Resources

Here are some alternative resources you can reach out to:

Greater Vancouver Food Bank: https://www.foodbank.bc.ca/
Surrey Food Bank: http://www.surreyfoodbank.org/
Langley Food Bank: http://www.langleyfoodbank.com/
Richmond Food Bank: http://richmondfoodbank.org/
Food Bank BC: http://www.foodbanksbc.com/
Food Bank Canada: https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/
SHARE: http://sharesociety.ca/food-bank/
Single Parent Food Bank: http://www.singleparentfoodbank.org/

History

We thank the Graduate Student Society, Out on Campus, Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group, SFSS Board of Directors, SFSS Member Services Coordinators and Staff, SFU Residence and Housing, SFU Student Services, SFU Women’s Centre, and many SFU students for their commitment, valued contribution to dialogue, and hard work in alleviating student hunger at SFU.