Student athletes at UBC Okanagan are volunteering with regional organizations to address food security on campus and in their local communities. The UBCO Heat women’s soccer team, along with their head coach, Craig Smith, recently offered to support the food donation program at the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank. Through this initiative, the students get the opportunity to lend a hand in their community, while making meaningful connections with their teammates.
“Volunteering at the food bank certainly puts life in perspective,” said Smith, who has logged more than 250 volunteer hours with the food back since 2020. “There are a lot of people in need, and just seeing the volume of after-school snack packs for kids, it’s clear there are also a lot of children who don’t have access to healthy food.”
In addition to the food bank, UBCO Heat athletes have also volunteered for Canadian Blood Services, Hope Outreach, KidSport Canada and UBCO’s student food bank, the Pantry. The Pantry’s Manager, Stephanie Patterson, acknowledges the significant contributions made by UBCO Heat athletes to the program’s success. She said, “The Heat athletes have been really involved with the Pantry and we’ve received quite a few donations thanks to their outreach work. They’re ready and willing to volunteer, and it’s really heartwarming to see students helping students. People across the campus community recognize the need, and want to do something about it.”
To read the full story, visit the UBC Okanagan News website.
Facilitating student-led initiatives to support communities is one of UBC’s top-most priorities, addressed under Strategy 20: Co-ordinated Engagement.