46 Supporting existing Services

Some campuses have existing services and programs that are supported through partnerships between the Student Association and Student Services or other departments of the College. One of the more common services provided at many campuses is the Student Pantry program. The Student Pantry, administered through Student Services and the Student Association, provides emergency food relief to the campus community.  All NSCC students are welcome to use the Student Pantry by showing a valid student ID card.

Physical Food Pantry Program

Some campuses may have a designated room for the distribution of non-perishable goods and hygiene products. Student Associations at a campus that provides a physical food pantry may support the delivery of this service through taking inventory, checking expiry dates, grocery shopping and re-stocking shelves. As VP Services, you should connect with Student Services early in your term to review the partnership model at your campus and what is expected of you to uphold this program. Some campuses with a larger student population may choose to hire a Pantry Coordinator to support the delivery of this program, as this can sometime be a large undertaking.

Pantry Gift Card Program

Some campuses may opt to forgo the physical food pantry in lieu of a grocery gift card program. This allows students the opportunity to select their own items at the grocery store, offering more options to students who have food allergies, sensitivities or cultural needs. Pantry gift cards must be administered in collaboration with Student Services and may be supported by the Student Association by way of funding the gift cards.

Another common food security initiative across many campuses is the Breakfast Program. As with any program, this may be administered in many different ways depending on the capacity of your executive team. Some campuses have partnerships with campus cafeterias, Student Services or community partners, while other campuses run this program completely within the Student Association. With any Breakfast Program, it is important to arrive to campus well before students typically do, to ensure that everything is set up and ready for students as they get to campus. Proper food handling must also be considered when determining how you will deliver the program. Please seek support from Student Life or your campus cafeteria should you have any questions.

Grab and Go Breakfast Program

Some Student Associations may take on this program alone and if that is the case, the easiest way to go about it is to purchase snackable breakfast foods such as granola bars, muffins, applesauce, trail mix, etc. for students to grab as they arrive on campus, and take with them to class. If you have access to a fridge or mini fridge in your Student Association office, you may also choose to add yogurt drinks, yogurt cups, cheese, milk, etc. Fresh fruits that are easy to carry such as apples, bananas, oranges, etc. are also a welcome addition depending on your budget. Any unclaimed items must be stored appropriately for the following breakfast program offering. Depending on your budget, you may choose to offer this program multiple times a week, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

The nice thing about this type of program is that you can choose to leave the items on a table for students to take on their own, without having to miss your own early morning classes. Similar to the pantry, the biggest undertaking is the shopping part of this program. Some campuses with larger student populations may choose to hire a Breakfast Program Coordinator to take on the full scope of this program.

Student Lounge Breakfast Program

If your campus has a student lounge, you may choose to take on a program similar to the Grab and Go Breakfast Program, however the simple addition of a microwave or toaster, kettle or coffee maker allows you to offer more options such as oatmeal, bagels, toast, coffee, tea etc.

This type of program would require further oversight by a member of your Executive team to ensure students are using the equipment properly and that your student lounge space remains clean and tidy.

Hot Breakfast Program

Some campuses may choose to work with their cafeteria or culinary program to offer a weekly or monthly hot breakfast option that is either cost effective for students or fully subsidized by the Student Association. Examples have included pancake breakfasts offered by the Cafeteria, paid for by the Student Association or brunch-style options provided by Culinary students, paid for by the Student Association. From time to time, you may also choose to offer this type of subsidized meal during a lunch hour.

If you take this approach to a breakfast program, you should first connect with your Cafeteria and/or Culinary Faculty (where applicable) to see if they have the capacity for this partnership, and to ensure you have enough funding to support the program.