Media Releases

Dec. 8, 2020 (Halifax, NS) – Together, Nova Scotia universities raised $165,000 to improve food security for students as part of a province-wide initiative on Giving Tuesday. 

Inspired by a pledge from the J & W Murphy Foundation to match gifts from individuals to a certain threshold, nine universities joined forces to raise funds for their student-led food security programs on campus. 

“The response to this province-wide food security initiative shows the true spirit of Nova Scotia,” says Deep Saini, Dalhousie University’s president and vice-chancellor. “The deep-rooted commitment to supporting one another is one of the things that makes this province so special. I want to thank the J & W Murphy Foundation for their generosity, vision and leadership, and everyone who has lent their support to this project. I am so proud of the way Nova Scotia’s universities worked together to provide assistance to students during this challenging time.”

Dalhousie’s Food Security Project raised more than $67,000 to support the Dalhousie Student Union’s network of food security programs. This substantial boost to their operating budget will mean that the Food Bank can operate for more hours, give out more food boxes and add additional food items to the boxes. It will also enable them to enhance programming at their Sustainability Office that helps students learn the skills to become more food secure. 

“This generous support means that we will be able to increase food security for students throughout this year and beyond,” says Isa Wright, vice president of finance and operations for the Dalhousie Student Union. “It also shows students that there is a community of alumni, friends and other supporters who want to see us succeed. This kind of encouragement really helps us to focus on our goals, and we are deeply grateful.”

Cape Breton University also exceeded its goal, raising more than $14,000 that will assist the Students’ Union in their efforts to support students in need in the Cape Breton community. “2020 has not necessarily been kind to everyone, and that means we need to be kinder to each other,” says David C. Dingwall, president and vice-chancellor. “The inspiration of the J & W Murphy Foundation to synchronize and amplify this campaign province-wide helped shine a light on a very important issue facing university students across the province. And now, many more students will be able to eat well during what could prove to be a difficult winter.”

“We’re amazed, moved and thrilled by the results from each of the university communities. This is such a valuable — and rewarding — conversation. We cannot thank Nova Scotians enough for answering the call,” says Lisa Murphy, co-director of the J & W Murphy Foundation alongside her sister, Karen Spaulding. 

It was Murphy who proposed the idea of taking the campaign province-wide, so more university students could get the help they need to eat well. Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Mount Saint Vincent University, St. Francis Xavier University, Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Atlantic School of Theology, NSCAD University and the University of King’s College all raised funds to improve food security for their students, all meeting — and many exceeding — their fundraising goals.

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Media Contact:
Lindsay Dowling-Savelle
Dalhousie University
Lindsay.Savelle@dal.ca
902-222-8810

Stephanie MacDougall
Cape Breton University
Stephanie_MacDougall@cbu.ca
902-317-4717