On Sept. 21, 2022, the new free breakfast program launched for the UFV community, run as a partnership between the Student Support Centre and the Student Union Society SUS). Set up as a self-serve breakfast program, students are encouraged to come to S1111 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to have a free meal. Sarena Favaro, student support coordinator at Student Life, and Kaylee Lovesy, UFV-SUS food bank assistant, sat down with The Cascade to discuss how this project came to fruition and what they hope to accomplish.
According to Favaro, they received outside funding for this project from United Way. The Student Support Centre and the SUS took roughly a year to collaboratively put the program together for students.
“Ultimately our main priority is food security and helping students achieve [it]. And we know that it doesn’t solve the problem of food security, but we hope that it does offer students an opportunity to be fed,” said Favaro.
“And we also want to make sure that students have at least one meal when they’re studying here at UFV,” Lovesy added.
On opening day, there were 38 students and 28 the day after. On day three, they supported a record breaking total of 136 people with the breakfast program. When asked about how they accommodated so many students, Favaro said that they had to constantly refill supplies to cater to the large crowd.
“And students were so appreciative of the support that we were offering to them from each person in the line. We got such kind words and said that it really was a service that could support them,” said Lovesy.
On average, the breakfast club supports around 45 to 50 people a day, according to Favaro, but the numbers change depending on the week and if there are exams going on.
“We encourage students to bring their own reusable containers and utensils for the program and we do not provide any of that to reduce waste systems as much as possible.”
Lovesy said that they offer several grab and go breakfast items through the program such as cereal, dairy and non-dairy milk, granola bars, soft flower cakes, oatmeal, granola, frozen berries, and yogurt.
What Favaro hopes to see is a continuation of the breakfast program into the winter semester and the next year.
“I would love to see the breakfast program be sustained for students. I think that looks like thinking about more sustainable ways for us to offer the breakfast program in terms of human power and capacity,” said Favaro.
Favaro explained that they cannot predict how many students will use the program and it will be a “trial and error” experience as they continue with running the program. Favaro hopes to use the funding allotted for the breakfast program and hopefully get more for the winter semester as well as the following fall and winter semesters.
“To add to that, coming from the food bank perspective, I think it’s been really useful to be able to let food bank users know about this program as well and really introduce this as a food security initiative to them,” said Lovesy “And so alongside their hamper support that they’re getting every 10 days, they can also receive free breakfast three times a week. We really see that as progressive in our food bank programs as well.”
When asked if they were interested in expanding the program to other UFV campuses, Favaro said that there are current talks of hopefully bringing this program to other campuses like Chilliwack as well, but there are no concrete details at this time.
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
