Fueling Student Success
Food security is fundamental to student success, well-being, belonging, and academic achievement. The University of Windsor is committed to creating a campus community where everyone has access to safe, nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. Through collaborative initiatives, education, sustainability practices, and community partnerships, we are working toward our vision of Zero Hunger on Campus.
Free Food Alert Program
The Free Food Alert program helps connect students with surplus food available from campus events and meetings. The program is intended to address student food insecurity, enrich community building, and reduce food waste.
Why it Matters
- Provides an additional food access resource for students.
- Reduces food waste and supports sustainability goals.
- Builds community through shared access to available resources.
How to use Free Food Alert
- For Student Subscribers: Sign up using your university email address to receive notifications when food becomes available.
- Register as a host using your university of email address, complete host training, and send notifications when surplus food remains after events.
How it Works:
- Hosts will send email and/or push notifications to student subscribers whenever there is a free food giveaway on campus. This notification will include the location and the type of food available.
- To sign up for push notifications, you can download the Free Food Alert app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Simply make an account with your @uwindsor.ca email and you are automatically signed up for notifications! Whenever there is a giveaway on campus, you’ll know!
Who can host
To become a Host, you must:
- Be a University of Windsor staff or faculty member (employee) or,
- student leader of a UWSA, UWSA Student Club or Society, OPUS or GSS
- Intend to use the Free Food Alert giveaway regularly!
To become a host, sign up as a subscriber for Free Food Alerts by making an account on the Free Food Alert website or app with your @uwindsor.ca email address. Then complete the Giveaway Host Training. After training is complete, you will be approved by the university’s Free Food Alert administrator. Then you’re ready to start sending notifications and reducing food waste!
For additional questions, please email Daniella Beaulieu, AAS- Learning Specialist.
For Student Subscribers
- Check the alert for details about the food and the pick-up location and time.
- Follow all instructions provided in the alert and at the distribution location, including students must also use their own containers, thermoses or re-usable mugs.
- Visit the distribution location during the designated pick-up time.
- Free food is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Supplies are limited, so please take only what you need to help more Lancers benefit!
(If you have a strict dietary restriction and/or allergies, it is recommended to use the application with caution.)
Types of Events that Qualify for Free Food Alert
There are three types of events that qualify for Free Food Alert.
Launch of program (October 2026 – February 2027)
The host sends out a Free Food alert when there is extra food from a UofW catered event in keeping with our Campus Food and Beverage Policy. There is a 15 minute – 1-hour window for subscribers to pick up. This is what the Free Food Alert program was originally designed for, with the goal of extending events to reduce food waste and feed hungry people on campus.
An event that offers recovered food and/or an event that promotes free food giveaways in keeping with our Campus Food and Beverage Policy. Hosts send out an alert at the beginning of the event to encourage subscribers to stop by and grab some free food.
Coming Soon! Programs that recover food and place it in a central distribution area. Central distribution areas could be refrigerators and/or freezers that individuals could pick up food from. Hosts would send out an alert when a new delivery is placed in these areas and ready for pick up.
Support Food Security Through Donations
Creating a food-secure campus is a shared responsibility. Financial contributions, in-kind donations, and community support help strengthen food security initiatives and expand available resources. Potential donations may support:
- Student emergency food assistance programs
- Food pantry operations
- Food literacy and education initiatives
- Campus food security programming and events
- Please consider making a gift to support the Food Security
Yes, I'd Like to Donate to Support Student Food Security
Food Security Action Plan
The University of Windsor Food Security Action Plan provides a strategic roadmap for addressing food insecurity on campus. Grounded in equity, inclusion, sustainability, and student well-being, the plan focuses on expanding supports, promoting food literacy, addressing systemic barriers, and building partnerships that contribute to long-term solutions.
Key priorities include:
- Expanding immediate and long-term food security supports.
- Reducing stigma associated with food insecurity.
- Promoting sustainable and equitable food systems.
- Strengthening community collaboration and advocacy.
View the Food Security Action Plan
Connecting to Campus Resources
UWSA Food Pantry
- Access emergency food supports and information about available food assistance resources.
Student Mental Health Services
- Food insecurity and mental well-being are closely connected. Access counselling, wellness supports, and mental health resources.
Office of Sustainability
- Learn about sustainability initiatives, food waste reduction efforts, and opportunities to get involved.