Fueling Minds and Bellies: Introducing the Nutrition Access Program

You can’t focus on lectures when you’re thinking about your next meal. That’s why the Ontario Tech Student Union is launching the Nutrition Access Program— a three-year, student-driven initiative to address food insecurity on campus.

What Is the Nutrition Access Program?

The Nutrition Access Program is more than just free snacks. It’s a three-year pilot project designed to:

• Understand the barriers students face in accessing food.
• Provide immediate food options.
• Gather student feedback
• Build a sustainable, student-led program that protects dignity and promotes wellness.

Food insecurity not only about hunger — it affects academic success, focus, and overall well-being. By using student feedback and data, we’re shaping a service that works for Ontario Tech’s unique student community.

The Program Components: Snack & Go + Breakfast Table

In the first phase of the program, we’re rolling out two simple but impactful initiatives:

Snack & Go

Quick bites for when you’re rushing to class.

• What you’ll find: Pre-packaged snacks like granola bars.
• When: Every Monday, 10:30–11:30 a.m. (while supplies last)
• Where:
  • North Campus: Shawenjigewining Hall (SHA 115)
  • Downtown: Charles Hall (CHA 105)

Breakfast Table

A once-a-month energy boost for busy mornings.

• What you’ll find: Grab-and-go breakfast items like fruit and yogurt.
• When: The first Wednesday of each month, 10:30–11:30 a.m. (while supplies last)
• Where:
  • North Campus: Shawenjigewining Hall (SHA 115)
  • Downtown: Charles Hall (CHA 105)

Both programs are open to all full-time students. They’re designed to provide immediate relief and help us understand where and how students need more support.

The Three-Year Plan

The Nutrition Access Program isn’t a quick fix — it’s a long-term, phased effort.

Year One (2025–2026): Pilot & Listen

• Launch Snack & Go and Breakfast Table.
• Collect feedback on students’ experiences with food spending and access.
• Explore the possibility of a student-led ancillary fee to expand future services.
• Assess the impact of these initiatives and identify gaps in campus food access.

Year Two (2026–2027): Scale & Improve

• Use feedback and data to refine and scale the program.
• Explore and expand different delivery models, such as grocery gift cards, food hampers, or new partnerships.
• Focus on sustainability and effective use of student and donor contributions.

Year Three (2027–2028): Sustain & Grow

• Evaluate program outcomes.
• Secure long-term funding.
• Establish NAP as an ongoing, institutionally supported service.

Our Goals for the Program

The Nutrition Access Program was created with students at the centre. Over the next three years, our goals are to:

• Provide simple breakfast options: Help students stay focused on their studies by providing ready-to-eat snacks.
• Gather student feedback: Encourage students to share feedback about food security and habits to build an Ontario Tech-specific program.
• Build Sustainable Student-Led Solutions: Use student input to design a long-term, scalable system supported by stable funding.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Food Access at Ontario Tech

This program works best when students lead the way. Here’s how you can be part of it:

• Take the survey: Share your experiences with nutrition access so we can design a program that meets real needs.
• Participate in Snack & Go and Breakfast Table: Show up, enjoy a snack, and let us know how we can improve.
• Support the program: If you’re able, consider a small donation to help fuel your fellow students.

Because no one should have to choose between food and their education.

💙 Your OTSU

Empowering students. Enriching experiences.