One less worry: Ryerson donates food boxes to students
Ryerson鈥檚 biweekly food boxes will provide students fresh, healthy produce to alleviate food insecurity. Photo by S'well on Unsplash.
If you are a Ryerson student experiencing food insecurity and live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), you can . Food Services will do their utmost to support as many individuals as possible through this program.
Your Instagram feed has been taken over by budding chefs. Little wonder: food has become a source of comfort for many people sheltering at home around the world. But for those experiencing hardship during this time, buying food can be intensely stressful.
That鈥檚 why on April 20, Ryerson Food Services and (MX) began offering students through delivery partners like . The boxes are full of fresh fruits and vegetables, helping students alleviate the financial, emotional and physiological stress caused by the global health crisis.
Made possible through the generous support of Ryerson's annual donors, the initiative is helping students who don鈥檛 have reliable access to healthy meals over a 12-week period. Ryerson students who took courses in winter 2020 and live in the GTA can complete the to add themselves to the waitlist.
Associate Director of Food Services Marwan El Chafei, who is leading the initiative, knows exactly how important access to food is to well-being. Born and raised as a refugee, then living abroad alone as an international student, El Chafei can relate to these students on many levels.
鈥淚magine you have two options: eat or pay for your education. That鈥檚 what food insecurity looks like,鈥� El Chafei explains.
El Chafei, who manages a team of 150 employees, oversaw changes to Ryerson鈥檚 extensive dining and catering operations during the transition to essential services on campus.
鈥淣utrition is directly related to your academic performance and mental well-being. Food plays a key role in supporting the university鈥檚 strategic objectives,鈥� he says.
Imagine you have two options: eat or pay for your education. That鈥檚 what food insecurity looks like. 鈥� Marwan El Chafei, associate director of Food Services
El Chafei is still concerned for those students who continue to feel the impact of the global health crisis. On March 25, he reached out to MX, a student-driven organization that advocates for affordable and sustainable food options at colleges and universities, to see how his team can support Ryerson students in need. With Ryerson providing the funds, MX leveraged their networks and partnerships to manage the logistics of food collection, packaging and delivery to students.
鈥淭he food boxes provide fresh and local food to students who are struggling during this crisis, while also supporting local farmers and the local food economy,鈥� says Brittany Maguire, Good Food Campus Lead at MX, who worked closely with El Chafei to launch the initiative.
鈥淪tudents receiving boxes have the opportunity to connect with other students across the country, building community through the sharing of educational content and recipes for using fresh produce,鈥� Maguire adds.
El Chafei hopes the food boxes that reach students will make a difference during this challenging time. For those facing the greatest food insecurity, such as people who lost part-time or summer employment, or face overwhelming family commitments, every bit of help counts.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 any way Food Services can play a role 鈥� even a small role 鈥� in providing more support and keeping students鈥� academics on track, that would be a very positive outcome of this,鈥� he says.