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Why Give | Impact stories

On Giving Day, donors helped tackle food insecurity on the UBC Okanagan campus

Picnic, a community wellness hub, wouldn’t exist without donor support.

Every day, more than 300 students access Picnic, a community wellness hub offering students low-cost food options, a free breakfast program, food skills workshops, free community meals and many other wellness-based events and activities. This access wouldn’t be possible without the support of generous donors like you.

A surprising number of university students—up to 40 per cent—are food insecure and lack consistent access to adequate food. This can affect everything from grades to mental, physical and social wellbeing. That’s why UBC Okanagan created Picnic. Gifts to Picnic on Giving Day and throughout the year directly impact students by supporting every aspect of the program—from providing free nutrient-dense breakfasts to teaching students how to cook healthy meals.

“We’re very proud of what we’ve built with Picnic, which meets students where they’re at” says Melissa Feddersen, manager of Campus Wellness and Education at UBC Okanagan. “Research shows that roughly 18 per cent of food insecure undergraduate students on campus may need to abandon their studies, but when students have their basic needs met, they’re more likely to complete their degree and thrive both academically and socially.”

In 2019, UBC Okanagan undertook a research study to explore ways of improving food insecurity on campus. Picnic was created in response to the study’s findings and officially opened its doors in January 2023.

“Picnic doesn’t have any core or budget funding, so donor dollars are critical to keeping this program running, and Giving Day is an important part of our fundraising for the year,” says Melissa.

One student was so inspired by Picnic that she began to rethink her career path. Ankitha Bakshi is a third-year undergraduate student studying psychology who started off as a volunteer for Picnic’s community meals and now works as a researcher with the Campus Wellness and Education team.

“Picnic is addressing food insecurity through a lens of compassion—it is a place where students can find community,” says Ankitha. “I’ve heard people say things like, ‘thank you for feeding me this year,’ which is such a powerful statement!”

For Ankitha, her experience with the program has strongly influenced her career trajectory. Her goal is to one day facilitate a mental health service program, driven by her passion for initiatives that make a difference— just like Picnic does for so many Okanagan students.

“Picnic is confronting some of the biggest challenges our students—and society—face, from food insecurity to mental health issues,” says Melissa. “We keep the students connected to each other and to UBC Okanagan. It really is a beautiful place to be, and we wouldn’t be here without donors!”

Support Picnic today to help UBC Okanagan students access nutritious meals, build community, and thrive