Soaring demand at Canadore College’s student food bank
Demand at Canadore College's student food bank is increasing as some college students are finding it hard to pay all of their expenses.
The school's food bank usage is up more than 50 per cent since the last school year and the shelves always need to be filled with food products.
"I have heard from a few students that tell me they have had to cut down on the food that they're eating,” said Jessica Crook, Canadore student council vice-president of student life.
Officials who run the food bank estimate close to 100 students have gotten help this semester. That number has doubled since the last school semester.
"The pandemic has put strain finally on a lot of families,” said Lise Paxton, the college’s student government coordinator.
“Students are coming to school for the first time and maybe their parents were without work. There are lots of factors."
The school is concerned with the trend, citing student struggles with high inflation, cost of schooling and only part-time jobs available in the daytime.
"The community approaches us all the time saying they're looking for staff, but they're in class until 5 o’clock and they can only work a couple hours a day,” said Paxton.
“They want to work but can't fill the hours.”
The food bank is run at all four of the college’s campuses, including the campus in West Parry Sound.
Canadore’s student council is aware of the issues and is working with the school, students and food bank to ensure they get the financial support they need.
"No one likes to hear it. It's people you know and people in your student body. But we are supporting those students as best as we can," said Crook.
The student council is hoping it can find ways to wean students off the food bank as the semester continues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury: CNN sources
Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter -- the first time in American history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges.

EXCLUSIVE | Security increased for prime minister's advisers after break-and-enter incidents
Ottawa Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the residence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security adviser, the second such incident involving one of his top aides in recent months.
'Nova Scotians' sense of safety was rocked': RCMP failures dominate inquiry's final report into 2020 mass shooting
A long list of failures by Nova Scotia RCMP leadership and policing systems dominate the final report into Nova Scotia's April 2020 mass shooting.
Meet the Canadian astronauts up for a seat on the Artemis II mission to the moon
This Sunday, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will announce the four astronauts that will be blasting off to fly around the moon for the Artemis II mission, one of whom will be a Canadian astronaut.
Gwyneth Paltrow not at fault for ski collision, jury decides
Gwyneth Paltrow won her court battle over a 2016 ski collision at a posh Utah ski resort after a jury decided Thursday that the movie star wasn't at fault for the crash.
Memes, ski etiquette and that missing GoPro video: Highlights from the Gwyneth Paltrow trial
When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.
Research points to common infections as cause of liver disease outbreak in kids
Scientists think they may have pinpointed the cause of a mysterious outbreak of liver disease that affected children worldwide last year.
House abandoned by couple who 'disappeared' years ago nightmare for neighbour on upscale street
A Toronto man, whose neighbours vanished eight years ago and left their home completely abandoned, said he's fed up living next door to a property that is in complete disarray.
UCP candidate, slammed for comments on pornography in schools, quits
A candidate for the United Conservative Party in southern Alberta has resigned after she posted a video claiming children are being exposed to pornography in schools.