Food security at UFV
Food security means having reliable and equitable access to enough food that is affordable, safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate. It also means having dignity and choice in how food is accessed. Food security depends on food systems that are sustainable and just.
At UFV, food security efforts focus on reducing barriers and helping students connect with support when they need it.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity happens when factors outside a person's control make it difficult to access enough food to support their well-being.
Many post-secondary students in Canada experience food insecurity, which can affect their health, well-being, daily life, and studies. Food insecurity can look like:
- worrying that food will run out before you can afford to buy more
- buying less food or choosing lower-cost options to stretch your budget
- skipping meals or reducing portion sizes
- balancing food costs with other essential expenses, such as rent, transportation, or tuition
Food insecurity is not always visible, and some students may not realize that the term describes what they're experiencing. Students do not need to identify with the term or wait until the situation becomes urgent to ask for support.
How does food insecurity affect students?
Food insecurity can affect many parts of student life.
When students don't have reliable access to enough food, they may feel tired or distracted. Everyday tasks can take more effort.
Worrying about food can also add to stress, anxiety, and isolation. It can feel like one more concern while trying to keep up with everything else.
These challenges can affect a student's studies. It may be harder to concentrate, attend class, complete assignments, or manage work and school at the same time.
Food support doesn't solve every challenge a student may face, but it can reduce some of the strain and leave more energy for daily life and studies.
What shapes food security?
Many factors can affect whether someone has reliable access to food. It is not caused by one choice or situation. It can be shaped by income, housing and education costs, transportation, family responsibilities, disability, and access to culturally appropriate food. Broader forces such as discrimination, colonialism, and climate change can also affect who has reliable access to food.
How is UFV supporting food security?
At UFV, food security work aims to respond to immediate needs while recognizing these broader barriers. Programs are designed to respect students' privacy, dignity, cultural and religious food practices, and dietary needs.
This work includes:
- Direct food support: food hampers, grab-and-go breakfast snacks, pancake breakfasts, and community meals
- Cooking skills and resources: free cooking classes, recipes, and resources
- Related basic-needs support: free period products and safer-sex supplies
- Partnerships and referrals: collaboration with campus and community organizations and connections to other supports
Together, these efforts help students access food, develop practical skills, and connect with campus and community resources.
2025/26 program activity
During the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 semesters, UFV's food security and related basic-needs program activity included:
- 549 food hampers provided to students studying at five UFV campuses
- more than 31,500 grab-and-go breakfast snacks
- more than 1,300 plates of pancakes
- approximately 330 iftar meals
- more than 16,000 free period products
