As 2020 nears its end, far too many Centennial students are continuing to struggle with food and housing security as a result of the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
That’s why, with Giving Tuesday quickly approaching on December 1, we’re asking the Centennial community to take a stand for students in need by donating to the Student Emergency Fund – a new resource launched to help vulnerable students access nutritious food and housing supports.
If you don’t want to wait until Giving Tuesday, you can give online right now. Every single gift will be matched by Centennial College up to a maximum of $25,000, doubling the impact of your contribution.
With nearly 94% of students relying on OSAP to fund their studies – more than any other post-secondary institution in the province – the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on our community. We’ve heard from many students that they’ve had to make incredibly difficult choices about whether to buy food or pay rent – or stay in school.
We also know these challenges aren’t new. In 2019, well before the pandemic, we asked Centennial students about their experiences with food insecurity. The results of our survey were shocking: 42% worry about running out of food before they have money to buy more, 38% have skipped a meal because they can’t afford to eat and 12% have used a food bank.
With the onset of COVID-19, these pre-existing challenges have only deepened.
No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or where they’ll sleep at night. With your help, we can ensure no Centennial student will go hungry or homeless.
There are several different ways to donate to the Student Emergency Fund:
- Donate online;
- Make a gift of securities, an easy and tax-smart way to give;
- Call 416-289-5000, ext. 8849 to make your gift over the phone;
- Contact Linda Barlow in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at lbarlow@centennialcollege.ca to explore other ways to donate.
If you would prefer to support a scholarship, please click here.
Thank you so much for your generous support!
Written by Emily Dontsos.