Cape Breton University to Participate in Province-Wide Campaign to Support University Food Banks

Today, Cape Breton University announced that it is taking part in a province-wide initiative with eight other Universities to support university food banks as part of Giving Tuesday, which takes place on December 1. This Giving Tuesday, CBU will look to the community to help raise funds to support the student-led food bank to ensure all students can access adequate quantities of nourishing food when they need it.

As part of this initiative, the J & W Murphy Foundation has agreed to match each university’s fundraising efforts. Each university will receive matching funds based on their student enrolment with a guaranteed minimum of $3500, with the potential for additional matching funds if the campaign exceeds this goal.

Since June 2020, the CBU Students’ Union has been running a mobile food bank as a response to the closure of the on-campus food bank. The Students’ Union has been engaging with students on social media to coordinate the delivery of food into the community and all students need to do is show their CBU student ID to access the food. The funds raised during this campaign will not only help CBU students during the holiday season, but it will also provide food security well into the new year.

“At Cape Breton University, we are a close-knit family. We take care of one another. We are very proud of the work the CBU Students’ Union has been doing to ensure our students have access to food security,” says CBU President David Dingwall. “During this season of giving, I want to encourage the community to support this initiative if they are able. We realize this is a difficult time, particularly for students, and we have a collective responsibility to support their needs.”

“At Cape Breton University, we understand the need and the importance of food security. Not knowing where your next meal is coming from can have an adverse effect on so many aspects of your life, including the ability to succeed in your studies,” adds Annabel Alu, Cape Breton Students’ Union Food Bank Coordinator. “Because of the current global pandemic and campus being closed to the general public, we have been working extremely hard to ensure students have access to the food they need by bringing the food bank into the community. This initiative will help us meet this demand and we are forever grateful.”

Giving Tuesday is an international grassroots movement that encourages and amplifies small acts of kindness and giving, whether through monetary donations, volunteers time or other resources.

To make a donation to support the CBU Students’ Union Food Bank operations, visit CBU.ca/Give.