Chaplaincy streamlines cash card 'food bank'

Catherine Sanders first came to the Saint Mary's chaplaincy as a student seeking a place to unwind. She is now inspired to lead faith studies and manage the university's food bank, services that are increasingly in demand. Photo: Matthias Brennan

Since the beginning of September, more students are making use of a new food bank program at Saint Mary's University.

The food bank operates out of the Saint Mary's chaplaincy. The office decided this fall to offer students grocery cards to the Atlantic Superstore instead of providing donated goods kept in stock. Catherine Sanders is the campus ministry intern for the chaplaincy and is in charge of the new food initiative. She says when the chaplaincy kept a food bank, space was limited and the food stock required a lot of upkeep. As well, the goods available didn't adhere to special dietary needs.

Following the change, Sanders says she received 12 students in one week looking for help while last year she would only expect that number for the entire month. The grocery card idea was so popular several students had to be turned away. Grocery cards ran out and the food bank was afraid of exhausting its budget. John Stevens of the Archdiocese of Halifax, who oversees financial needs of the Saint Mary's food bank, says they normally receive donations of between $250 and $500 about five to 10 times a year. Though he wasn't able to provide budget estimates since the food bank depends on the generosity of the Saint Mary's community, a couple of thousand dollars can be expected for the food bank each year.

The chaplaincy initiated another change this fall to control the flow of traffic by forming a partnership with the school's financial aid office. Financial aid staff members now refer students to the food bank before Sanders grants the $25 grocery cards.

Sanders is aware of heedlessness in the past.

"We really weren't asking any questions," she said. "We figured the majority of students need it but we want to make sure the people that are coming to us do need it so that resources aren't being wasted."

Sanders became a Catholic and gained interest in ministry while studying as a student at Saint Mary's. For her, including the food bank within the mandate of the chaplaincy is a way of living out her Christian faith. But she believes providing for a student is most important regardless of his or her religious beliefs.

 "We are not here to force anything. We are here because its part of this mandate that came out of Saint Mary's University and its history," she said.

Father Randy Hendricks was the chaplain of Saint Mary's before Father Daren Bryk arrived this fall. Last December, Hendricks told UNews while they collected food items, the majority of donations were money. Since Saint Mary's Food Bank is not a member agency of Feed Nova Scotia, it must provide for students either through fundraising or through donations. Donations are collected from various individuals and groups including the local diocese.

Sanders argues students are increasingly relying on student loans rather than money from their parents. The apparent increase in student need elevated the demand for food security. This came in spite of limited advertising. Sanders says they only relied on posters and word of mouth.

The percentage climb may be subtle, but the minimum wage in Nova Scotia October 2011 hit $10 an hour in October 2011, a 3.5 per cent change since the last increase in October 2010. This change was lower than the 10.9 per cent change seen in October 2010 compared to the year prior. Finally, Nova Scotia's consumer price index, the cost of a basic basket of goods, saw a 4.2 per cent change in September 2011 compared to a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada- the highest increase in the country. While minimum wage only climbed slightly in 2011, market prices are unforgiving.

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