Making a difference with more than just a meal
Life as a student can be difficult at times. Exams, studying, assignments — these can all add up and take a toll on one’s mental and physical health. And dealing with all that on an empty stomach makes the stress even worse.
Across Canada, rising food costs continue to strain household budgets and students are feeling that pressure, too. The 2021 National Student Food Insecurity Report found that 56.8% of post-secondary students experienced food insecurity.
Many students balance tuition, rent and long work hours, often with little money and time left for grocery shopping. To help ease that pressure, food security initiatives are available such as SAIT’s Student Food Pantry — a free campus food fridge — and the SAIT Students’ Association’s emergency food fund and subsidized fresh produce program.
Did you know ...
More than 2,400 meals were provided to students between October 2025 and March 2026 thanks to donor generosity and cross-campus partnerships.
When the Student Food Pantry first opened in SAIT’s Interfaith Centre, the response was immediate — and deeply emotional.
“Some of the students were in tears, saying,‘I can’t believe SAIT would do this,’” recalls Interfaith Liaison Art Kung (EMT ’90) (pictured left), who helps oversee the program.
The pantry offers free food in a welcoming, judgment-free space with items from campus partners like Tim Hortons, Starbucks and on campus dining centres. There are no forms to fill out and no questions asked — just food when it’s needed most. “You come in, you see there’s food, you have lunch,” Kung explains.
The need, however, continues to grow because meals tend to go fast. At times, “Thirty meals are gone in two hours,” shares Kung.
Hunger impacts concentration and academic performance. “They’re not bad students,” Kung notes. “They’re dealing with hunger.”
Thanks to donor generosity, the Student Food Pantry provides more than meals — it offers stability, dignity and a sense of belonging.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.