Help us reach our goal to raise $10,000 for Students' Union Campus Food Bank

Thanks to the generosity of the community, we have managed to raise thousands of dollars in support of UCalgary students this holiday season — but we need your help to cross the finish line and meet our goals.

This year, UCalgary Alumni’s Celebrate with Santa campaign is raising money for two important initiatives: the Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary and the Students' Union Campus Food Bank. In just 13 days, donors have given more than $5,300 to support student-athletes, surpassing our goal for the bursary — and there’s still time to do the same for the food bank, an important cause that helps UCalgary students in need.

"We are so grateful for the work that the SU Campus Food Bank does to help students and other members of our community who are struggling,” says Colleen Bangs, BA’03, senior director of alumni engagement. “Celebrate with Santa is a way for our alumni and community as a whole to continue their tradition of generosity and support, as they have in the past at Skate with Santa.”

The SU Campus Food Bank works to alleviate emergency situations that affect the campus community’s access to healthy meals and provides nutritionally balanced, seven-day emergency food relief for students, staff and new alumni who’ve graduated in the last two years. Community support is what keeps the food bank up and running — especially in a year where students have faced unique challenges.

“Students learn better on a full stomach. Those who face food insecurity struggle greatly compared to their peers,” says Assad Ali Bik, Students' Union vice-president of student life.

With rising costs and fewer job prospects, many students and their families are turning to the SU Food Bank for support.

Your support through Celebrate with Santa is especially important, with alumni partner Manulife Financial Corporation generously matching the first $10,000 raised — so your gift has double the impact. And as a thank you for your contribution, the first 300 donors to give in support of the SU Campus Food Bank will also receive a special holiday celebration package with benefits from alumni-built businesses, including:

• a $10 discount code from Calgary Heritage Roasting Company
• a $10 discount code from Milk Jar Candle Company
• admission and skate rental at the Olympic Oval, valued at $10

Celebrate with Santa runs until Dec. 21. Make your gift online and help fight food insecurity in our community and help UCalgary students through the holidays.

“Your donation will go a long way to help a student through final exams and the holiday season,” says Ali Bik. “If you’re able, please donate today.”