Belleville, Ontario, July 8, 2020 – Loyalist College has strengthened its commitment to student food security by launching an online store for its Student Food Cupboard, an enhancement that makes healthy, nutritious food accessible to students who need it most.
“Many of our students have been impacted financially by COVID-19 and struggle with food security,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President & CEO. “By creating an online shopping platform for the Student Food Cupboard, we can quickly meet the needs of our students, provide an accurate inventory of what’s available, maintain physical distancing in accordance with Public Health and reach a broader base of students to directly meet their needs.”
The Student Food Cupboard, previously located at the College’s Belleville campus in Residence Commons, supports the health and well-being of Loyalist students by providing non-perishable food, school supplies and personal hygiene items, free of charge. Fresh food, such as vegetables and fruit, will also be made available. Harvest from the College’s new garden, donated and maintained by Willowlee Sod Farms, will also be distributed to students via the Student Food Cupboard.
“Our goal is to provide solutions to the challenges facing Loyalist students, from financial strain to food security,” said Mark Kirkpatrick, Loyalist College Senior Vice-President, Corporate Services & CFO. “The pandemic has been challenging for everyone and we continuously seek opportunities to be innovative and streamline our processes to provide timely student supports.”
To access the Student Food Cupboard, students log in to the MyLoyalist portal and click on the new “Food Cupboard” icon. Orders can be placed at any time and picked up on the third floor of the Kente Building (3L1) on Wednesdays, from 12:30 – 3 pm.
About Loyalist College
Loyalist is Ontario’s Destination College, empowering students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. The College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2017-18 Loyalist graduates, 88.5 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.7 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $382 million annually to the regional economy – based on a March 2020 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.