About Us

• Our mission: No student should need to choose between buying food or textbooks. Our mission at the SFUO Food Bank is to make sure that students and other members of the uOttawa community have access to food at all times during their time on campus. As a chapter of Meal Exchange, which is a nationwide student association that fights hunger, we also work to raise awareness of food security issues and attempt to break down the stigma surrounding food insecurity in Canada.
• Our location: We’re located in the basement of the University Centre, room 0015.  Go down the stairs near the Pivik Convenience Store and turn left at the bottom of the stairs.
• What you will need:
  • Your student card, government issued identification for any dependants you may have such as: children, elderly relatives, parents, and partners living with you
  • We recommend you bring your own reusable grocery bags, however we do provide plastic grocery bags if you are unable to bring your own
• What you will receive:
  • The Food Bank is here mainly to provide “emergency food hampers” (this phrase should be a hyperlink to the food hamper section of our services offered page) which contain three days worth of food. Since we do not control the type of donations we receive we never know what we will have on our shelves, but we try to offer healthy choices to our clients through a variety of food types

1. Rules for using the Food Bank are as follows:
   1. Usage agreement SFUO Food Bank Rules and Regulations for Clients
      1. I understand that this food bank is an emergency service.
      2. I understand that I can use the food bank only once a month.
      3. I understand that there will be consequences if I do not respect the rules.
      4. I will respect the employees, the volunteers and the other clients.
      5. I understand that the food bank is a positive space and I have to refrain from behaviours that could be hurtful.
      6. I understand that the quantity of food can be modified during the course of the year without warning.
      7. I understand that the confidentiality of this service is essential for me and other clients.
      8. I understand that I cannot trade, exchange, or substitute received items.
      9. I understand that the food bank is often crowded and that I will need to wait patiently in the waiting area.
      10. I understand that due to space available and in the best interest of keeping food from going bad, I cannot store my received items in the food bank.
   2. If we cannot serve you there are directions to other food banks in the area under our food insecurity and links section
   3. Confidentiality policy:
   4. Safe space policy:  The goal of this policy is to help maintain a safe space for clients, volunteers and staff of the Food Bank. The use of the Food Bank and the opportunity to work here, in any capacity, are privileges. The policy will provide a process for handling incidents that negatively affect the safety of those who use the space.
   5.  Inappropriate Behaviour and its Consequences
   6. Food Bank Rules and Regulation state that those who are in the space must respect others sharing the space, and that they must do their best to avoid hurtful behaviour. The regulations also state that failure to follow these rules will result in consequences. This purpose of the policy is to define what is expected as respectful and appropriate behaviour by those who occupy the space, as well as the consequences for those who violate these regulations.
   7. Prohibited Attitudes and Behaviours
      1.  Abuses such as harassment and assault are expressly prohibited.
      2. Harassment is any conduct that is known to be unwelcome or ought to be reasonably recognized as such. Assault is a violent and/or offensive contact towards another person. Assault can be physical (such as but not limited to: shoving, grabbing, throwing objects), verbal (such as but not limited to: slurs, threats, yelling), or emotional and psychological (such as but not limited to: intimidating, belittling, behaviour causing anxiety,).
      3. hese abuses will not be tolerated and supervisors reserve the right to take any action they see fit in order to prevent and limit the occurrence of abuses in the space and towards those who occupy it. Clients, volunteers, staff, and visitors are expected to respect others by avoiding assaulting and harassing conduct towards others.
      4.  Respect also includes treating others as equals by avoiding attitudes, behaviours and language (intentional or unintentional) that stem from sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and xenophobia. Occupants are expected to follow the Service’s Safe Spaces Policy. Occupants should do their best to discourage these attitudes and behaviours while actively encouraging a positive and welcoming space.
      5.  It is prohibited for occupants to make use of the space to advocate for political, religious, ideological, or other personal convictions. While communication on these topics is not restricted, it should be discouraged if the communications are unwanted and/or offensive to a peer.

2. Consequences

   1. The supervisors reserve the right to expel occupants from the space by verbally asking them to leave or through the use of Protection Services if they repeatedly fail to adhere to the policy. Failure to adhere to the policy will result in escalating action on the behalf of the administrators of the Food Bank. The action will be as follows:
   2. First Warning: If an incident occurs that fails to meet the expectations of the policy, a staff member will provide a verbal warning to that individual containing the following:
      1. Instruction to stop the conduct or correct the attitude
      2. Name the behaviour or attitude, and state why it is unacceptable if necessary
      3. Explain that this is the First Warning and second occurrence may result in expulsion from the Food Bank for the remainder of the semester. The staff member will also complete an incident report (attached) and inform the other staff members.
   3.  Second and Final Warning: If a person fails to adhere to the policy for a second time, a staff member will:
      1. Instruct the individual to stop the conduct or correct the attitude
      2. Name the behaviour or attitude, and state why it is unacceptable if necessary
      3. Explain that this is the Second and Final Warning and inform the person that the next violation of the policy will result in their expulsion for the rest of the term. The staff member will also complete an incident report (attached) and inform the other staff members.
   4.  Expulsion for the Term: If the person violates the policy a third time, they will be asked to leave (without food, if they are a client and have not been served yet) and not return until the following term. The staff member will complete an incident report and if they are a client, mark their file indicating the next date at which they can be served. The staff will also notify the Vice President of Student Affairs that someone has been expelled from the Food Bank.
   5.  Second Expulsion: If a person who has previously been expelled returns to the food bank in the following term they will be subject to the same process, but if they are expelled a second time, they will be asked to leave the food bank for an indefinite period of time.
   6. It should be noted that any occupant of the space who feels at risk may use the security alarm to call Protection Services which hangs in the alcove by the cleaning supplies.

3.  Donating

   1. Some things are always in demand at the food bank these things are: Fresh meat or produce, particularly fruit. Peanut butter, tuna, dairy, cereal and coffee or tea are also welcome! Any hygiene products like: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, razors, menstrual hygiene products are always needed
   2. What you CANNOT donate:
      1. Expired products: thought the products still may be edible after their best before date or expiry
      2. Severely dented cans: Cans that have sharp dents, are swelled or have dents along the seam can grow bacteria such as botulism that can cause serious harm if ingested.
      3. Open or partially used food items. This includes food, dried goods, soap body wash etc. as they may be contaminated or expired.
      4. Homemade food items: due to the fact that there is no legal accountability and individuals unlike companies are not obligated to follow food handling standards we do not accept homemade goods as it could potentially compromise the safety of our clients.
      5. Although we do take clothing we do not accept: dirty clothing, undergarments, or bathing suits for sanitary reasons.

Find out what it takes to be a volunteer! Keep busy with a variety of activities and help us out in the UCU basement!

What we need volunteers for/ what your tasks will be:

• Serve clients Emergency Food Hampers or fill-out Good Food Box orders
• Do walk-abouts: place food on shelves, check expiry dates
• Help out at events.
• Sort food and process donations
• Make posters, clean office, etc.
• Meet new friends

Download the Volunteer Form and submit a filled copy at Food Bank, UCU 015!