Allison Hector-Alexander, the co-ordinator of the Campus Food Centre says, "We are here to help students in need."
Durham College's Campus Food Centre has begun an awareness campaign to let students know that assistance is available for anyone in need.
"We want students to know that we are here," said Allison Hector-Alexander, co-ordinator of the campus Food and Women's Resource centres.
The Campus Food Centre opened in September 2007 in the Service Centre next to the Campus Library and is committed to feeding students in need so they can achieve their academic goals. It is supported by Women's Resource Centre staff and volunteers who find and manage food and toiletry items, fundraise and hold food drives. Officials report that some students have found themselves experiencing financial difficulties and turn to the centre for help.
"We have students who come to us, who have been hungry for days," Hector-Alexander said.
As part of the awareness campaign, food centre staff and volunteers will visit classrooms to speak about services and will also mount posters all over Durham College's campus from mid-February until the end of March.
Your Student Association sponsors the food centre's free, confidential services, which include short-term emergency food support, distributing food hampers, advocating for food security on behalf of participants and providing information and referrals to other resources that are interested in helping those in need.
Anyone who would like to donate food to the centre can do so by dropping off goods at the donation box located at UL 100 in the Service Centre, or by calling the centre to arrange a time for the donations to be picked up by volunteers.
For more information on the Campus Food Centre, please call 905.721.2000 ext. 3676, or visit www.your-sa.ca/womenscentre/food.html.