UPEI donors support food bank

Because of help from generous donors, UPEI's Annual Fund recently replenished the university's nearly empty campus food bank.

UPEI Annual Fund coordinator, Rose Barbour, and five UPEI students went on a shopping spree with donations designated for the food bank, filling six shopping carts to stock the food bank's shelves. In addition, the Charlottetown Superstore generously donated $500 in gift certificates to purchase perishable food items including fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy and meat products.

Barbour was proud to see students volunteering their time, 'Seeing a student pitching in to help their fellow students was a very rewarding experience.' She added, 'Through this experience, they have been introduced to philanthropy and volunteerism in a very meaningful way. Our donors made that happen, and we are grateful for each and every one of them.'

The campus food bank, housed at UPEI's Chaplaincy Centre, has been in operation for the past 15 years and has helped roughly 50 students each year. This number continues to grow as students face higher costs of living and other financial hardships. While these latest contributions satisfied the immediate need, it is expected that there will be increased demand in the lead up to Christmas.

The food bank is supported by various groups on campus as well as by UPEI's ever-growing community of friends and alumni, including the Charlottetown Superstore, That's Entertainment and the Charlottetown Christian Reformed Church.

For more information on how to make a donation to the food bank, or to other priorities that the UPEI Annual Fund raises money for, please call (902) 566-0615 or visit www.upei.ca/annualfund.