A new community partnership is helping Brandon University students stretch their budgets a little further. The Helping Hands Centre of Brandon has teamed up with BU Student Services to provide regular deliveries of free food throughout the year, offering support at a time when many students are feeling the pressure of rising living costs.
Under the partnership, Helping Hands will deliver food every two weeks during the academic year and once per month through the spring and summer. The items are distributed through tables set up in the Indigenous Peoples’ Centre and the Student Accessibility Services Office. BU says the first delivery earlier this month was picked up within a day, underscoring the level of need on campus.
Angela Braun, Executive Director of Helping Hands, says food insecurity affects people across all demographics. “When it comes to food security, it doesn’t matter who you are — either you have food or you don’t,” she said. “We’ll share with anybody who needs it if we can.”
Helping Hands receives food nearing its best‑before date from local grocery stores and restaurants, redistributing it through its soup kitchen and partner organizations. The selection varies with each donation cycle.
BU Dean of Students Katie Whelpton says even small amounts of support can make a meaningful difference. “Students were very appreciative of the first delivery,” she said. “A little bit can mean a great deal to students who are trying to stretch their money farther while focusing on their studies.”
Helping Hands welcomes volunteers of all ages and continues to accept donations online at HelpingHandsBrandon.ca.
