UVSS FOOD BANK
The UVSS Food Bank supports eligible UVic students facing food insecurity. If you’re struggling to find enough to eat, you’re not alone—many university students experience food insecurity. We’re here to help you access the resources you need.
Room: SUB B005
Phone: 250-472-4999
Email: [email protected]
What we Offer
We provide a variety of perishable and non-perishable foods, personal hygiene supplies, and information about additional resources in Victoria. Here’s a snapshot of what you can typically find at the UVSS Food Bank:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Canned goods
- Fresh vegetables and fruit
- Bread
- Non-dairy milk
- Juice
- Bulk items
- Menstrual products
Using the Food Bank
Students must be active UVic students who have paid UVSS or GSS fees in order to access the UVSS Food Bank.
Students must fill out the Food Hamper Request Form by Fridays at noon (12pm) to be included in the pick-up schedule for the following week.
Please ensure you come to the UVSS Food Bank only at your confirmed appointment time.
Identification & Collection
To access our services, present a valid ONECard at the time of hamper pick-up. This is mandatory and ensures confidentiality. Each visit will require:
- Your name
- Appointment time
- Student ID (Physical or Mobile ONECard)
Make sure to continue to fill out the Food Hamper Request Form each week to be included in the pick-up schedule for the following week.
If you need someone else to pick up food on your behalf, please inform staff of the names of your authorized individuals before they arrive at the Food Bank. Authorized individuals must present their own ID at the time of pick-up.
For the first visit of each term, a valid ONECard must be presented to staff. If you have authorized someone else to pick up for you, they must bring both their own ID and your ONECard for the first visit of the term.
If you cannot pick up a hamper due to a disability, we are piloting a limited delivery service. Fill out the form to determine eligibility. Note that completing the form does not automatically register you for delivery; eligibility will be assessed, and you will receive confirmation.
Hamper Delivery Eligibility Form
Hamper Size
Students are eligible for a single-sized food hamper. If you need a family-sized food hamper, you must show proof of dependents.
- On your first visit this term, please bring a piece of government-issued ID for any dependents you support (e.g., BC Services Card, birth certificate, driver’s license) along with proof that you live at the same address. We cannot accept photos or copies of IDs; the physical ID must be presented. After this initial verification, you will be able to pick up a family-sized food hamper for all future visits this term without additional ID checks for your dependents.
- Dependents are individuals living with you who rely on you as their primary source of income, including children, parents, or a significant other. Please note that other UVic students are not considered dependents for this purpose since they are eligible to their own hamper.
Donating to the Food Bank
The UVSS Food Bank is a student-run service funded primarily by student fees, however our success depends heavily on donations from the community.
Your donation to the UVSS Food Bank provides students with basic food and necessities while working to eliminate the stigma around accessing food banks.
Access to nutritious food is a key element of mental and physical health, and the UVSS Food Bank is a crucial resource for UVic students.
Online Donations
To make an online donation to the Student Food Bank, please click on the button below. All donations made through the online giving page will receive a tax receipt.
Food Donations
Drop-Off: Donate non-perishable items via our donation box located outside the UVSS Food Bank (SUB Room B005 – Basement). This box is available anytime the SUB Building is open.
Large or Perishable Donations: For large quantities of food that won’t fit in the donation box or perishable items, please contact us at [email protected] to arrange a donation time.
-
Items that are frequently in demand include:
- Toiletries such as toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, and dish soap
- Condiments such as spices, peanut butter, cooking oil, etc.
- Almond, rice, or soy milk
- Vegetarian soups
- Fresh foods such as milk, eggs, and bread
- Or monetary donations!
Food Bank donations must not be expired, open, or homemade.
Location
SUB B005
We are located in the basement of the Student Union Building (next to The Martlet) on the UVic campus. The space is accessible from the stairs and elevator.
Summer Hours (May-Aug):
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 2:00pm – 5:00pm
- Thursday: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
- Friday: 12:00pm – 4:00pm
By appointment only.
Hours subject to change week-to-week.
Volunteering
Interested in volunteering? We are always looking for new volunteers!
You can also find out more by emailing us at [email protected].
About Us
The UVSS Food Bank has been a student-led initiative at the University of Victoria since 2000. What began as a small pantry responding to food insecurity on campus has grown into a core UVSS service, now offering a grocery store-style experience for eligible students in need of food support.
With rising costs in tuition, housing, childcare, and food, we’re here to reduce barriers and help students meet their basic needs. Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate, or continuing study student — and especially if you’re supporting a family — the Food Bank offers essential resources to help you succeed.
Each week, over 400 eligible UVic students access this confidential service. Students can pick up a hamper once per week, after submitting an online hamper request and booking an appointment for pickup.
The UVSS Food Bank is funded through undergraduate student fees, and supported by grants, community partnerships, and donations from individuals and organizations.
The service is run by a small team of dedicated staff, with support from a vast network of volunteers, who are essential to ensuring students receive the help they need.
Want to get involved or give back? Check out our Volunteer and Donating section.
Need more support? Visit our Resource Guide for other food banks, free meals, and local services in Greater Victoria.
Goals & Values
The UVSS Food Bank is a community space that supports students by supplementing basic food and other supplies and works to eliminate the stigma surrounding accessing food banks.
Our service strives to create a safer space by acknowledging our trespassing on Lekwungen & WSANEC lands, continually learning and unlearning alongside UVSS advocacy groups, and responding to the needs of students. For more information, please read our Community Guidelines/Safer Spaces policy.
We advocate for and represent our members’ voices by providing them with services, events, and safer inclusive community spaces.
Partnerships & Support
The UVSS Food Bank is proud to collaborate with a wide range of community organizations, businesses, and the University of Victoria to help ensure food security for eligible students. These partnerships allow us to provide essential resources and expand our impact across campus and the community.
If you or your organization would like to partner with us, donate, or learn more about how you can get involved, please check out our Donating section or contact us directly. Together, we can make a lasting impact on food security at UVic.
We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support from our current and past partners:
- University of Victoria, its faculty, staff, and alumni
- Food Banks BC
- Fateh Care Charity (Hamper Delivery Service)
- Tru Earth
- Mustard Seed Street Church
- Times Colonist and the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller
- Vancity
- Rainbow Kitchen
- Country Grocer Royal Oak
- Thrifty Foods – Tuscany Village
- Fairway Market
- Broad View United Church
- Greater Victoria Savings Credit Union
- United Way
Questions or Concerns
Contact the UVSS Food Bank Officers by emailing [email protected] or calling us at 250-472-4999.