Ģ��AV’s Food Security Project returns this Giving Tuesday to support students

For the sixth year in a row, Dal is leading a coalition of Nova Scotia post-secondaries in raising money to support student food security.

Two people wearing masks and blue tops sort food items at a long table into green bins and onto shelves.

Posted: November 21, 2025

By: Stephanie Paterson

Second-year PhD student Alexe Indigo confronts the issue of food security every day.

Indigo is the manager of the Agricultural Campus’s Food Pantry, which provides students with access to a variety of nutritious food items including fresh produce, dairy and eggs, and shelf-stable food. Indigo says that in recent years, resources like the Food Pantry and the Ģ��AV Student Union (DSU) Foodbank in Halifax are essential in supporting the campus community.

Rising food costs contributing to increased demand

According to Statistics Canada, the overall price of food in Nova Scotia in September increased by 4.1 per cent over the same month last year. Indigo has been with the Food Pantry since 2022 and says the number of students using the service every month has quadrupled. “The need has grown exponentially,” says Indigo.

Times are tough, and we’ve seen that reflected in the number of students using the Food Pantry. — Alexe Indigo

Alexe Indigo manages the Agricultural Campus's Food Pantry where students can access nutritious food.

DSU President Maren Mealy says the DSU Foodbank, which serves students at Dal’s Halifax campuses and the University of King’s College, has also seen significant increases in the number of student visits. Last year, Mealy says the DSU Food Bank had more than 6,700 student visits, and the demand is expected to increase.

Bringing the community together for Giving Tuesday

On Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2025), Ģ��AV is rallying the community to raise funds for the , which provides critical support for Dal’s two student-run food banks. This year, in partnership with the J&W Murphy Foundation, the goal is to raise $100,000 to support students facing food insecurity.

“Each Giving Tuesday, we stand with student-led food banks across Nova Scotia because hunger shouldn’t be a barrier to learning,” says Lisa Murphy (BA’88, LLB’92) on behalf of the J&W Murphy Foundation. “With over half of Canada’s post-secondary students reporting food insecurity, a province-wide, all-campus campaign pulls institutions together to show students they’re not facing this crisis alone.”

Lisa Murphy seated with arms crossed in a restaurant, smiling.

Jo Galarneau (BA’03), president of the Ģ��AV Alumni Association (DAA), says Giving Tuesday is a wonderful opportunity for Dal alumni to unite and ensure students have the opportunity to thrive.

“Our alumni deeply understand the pressures current students encounter as they strive to build a better tomorrow,” says Galarneau. “Giving Tuesday demonstrates the commitment of our alumni and the entire Ģ��AV community in fostering opportunities and hope for students. No student should have to choose between food and their future.”

Galarneau standing next to the Ģ��AV tiger indoors and holding up a large social media photo frame.

Galarneau says DAA board members have challenged themselves to amplify the among their networks and she hopes other Dal alumni will help to make this year’s the most impactful one yet.

Giving Tuesday creates a meaningful impact for Dal students

Indigo says donor support for the has enabled the Truro/Bible Hill Food Pantry to keep food on the shelves and purchase the necessary equipment to expand capacity. Indigo says that this year’s funds will allow the Food Pantry to meet the increased demand and help create new educational programs to address some of the barriers to student food security.

Mealy says with donor support, the DSU Foodbank hopes to develop a food preparation station equipped with a sink and washing basin, enabling the Foodbank to bulk purchase food and reduce expenses. Mealy says they also hope to establish secure food drop-off sites across campus, where people can donate shelf-stable food outside of the Foodbank’s hours of operation.

On December 2, donors can triple the impact of their gifts to the Food Security Project thanks to generous matching gifts provided by J&W Murphy and a loyal Ģ��AV alum.

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