UVic Meal Share program
Helping reduce food insecurity for UVic students
The UVic Meal Share program offers a convenient opportunity for our campus community to help reduce food insecurity for students.
Eligible students can receive either a $50 credit to their ONECard flex account which can then be used anonymously to purchase food at any retail food location on campus. Or, a grocery store gift card.
This program is funded entirely by donations. The UVic Meal Share program is coordinated by University Food Services and the ONECard office.
How to donate
Your gift is incredibly important for students who are experiencing food insecurity. 100% of donated funds will be transferred monthly to students who are enrolled in the UVic Meal Share Program.
Donate online
All online donations will automatically be issued a tax receipt to the email provided by the donor. Donors can opt to remain anonymous or can be recognized for their support.
Learn more about how you can make an even greater impact on students who are experiencing food insecurity! Email Karen Batchelor, Senior Development Officer Student Affairs.
Donate at point-of-sale
Pay It Forward at Point-of-Sale by donation (suggested donations $2, $5, $10) at all University Food Services retail and dining locations. Only online donations are eligible for a tax receipt.
Everyone who donates at point-of-sale will receive a Pay It Forward donor sticker as a thank you and acknowledgement for their support. Place your sticker on your laptop, office door, binder, car bumper to showcase/celebrate your support and to help raise awareness of food insecurity which is a critical issue for students.
Our promise
100% of funds donated to the UVic Meal Share Program will be redistributed monthly to students who are enrolled in the UVic Meal Share Program. This program will incur no administrative fees.
Apply to the meal share program (students)
Eligibility
To qualify for the Meal Share program you must:
- be a current UVic student experiencing food insecurity
- have a flex or meal plan balance lower than $100
How to apply
Applying to the UVic Meal Share Program is simple and confidential.
You can click "submit your application form", and login using your netlinkID. This one-time application will remain in place for the academic year and you will not be able to re-apply.
Confidentiality
The program and your personal information is confidential and will only be viewed by the UVic Meal Share program administrators.
Receiving your funds
If there are funds available, they will be allocated to the next applicant in the que. Depending on your choice for distribution, funds will either be transferred to your ONECard flex account by the 15th of the month or you will be emailed notifying you of how to obtain your gift card. The flex account option will show up as a $50.00 deposit.
Flex funds are added to student flex accounts as follows:
- Maximum of $50 per academic year (if currently enrolled in the term)
- Funds will be distributed monthly until all donated funds are depleted
If you do not receive any funds, you will remain in queue to receive funds in the following month. You do not need to reapply.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity means having inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints. It’s a major public health issue in Canada and impacts a higher-than-average number of post-secondary students.
Approximately 40% of students at Canadian higher education institutions experiencing some degree of food insecurity—four times higher than the general Canadian population.