May 20, 2020

UOW staff launch food donation drive to support struggling students

Proceeds to provide pantry packs for students facing financial hardship.

University of Wollongong (UOW) staff have come together to launch a food donation drive to support students facing financial hardship due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University has teamed up with its campus supermarket, IGA, to create student pantry packs, which will be distributed to students over the next three weeks.

Staff can purchase whole pantry packs for $35, or items from the pantry list, and drop off to their faculty donation point or to UOW Pulse’s UniLife reception in Building 11.

Current students can collect their pantry pack from the Clubs Room, located in Building 11, on the following days by producing their student IDs.

Friday 22^nd May (1pm-3pm)

Friday 29^th May (1pm-3pm)

Friday 5^th June (1pm-3pm)

UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE, praised the staff-led initiative, which will provide some relief to students who have lost employment or are struggling to support themselves as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I am grateful for the generosity shown by staff across the university to come together and support our students in these difficult times.

“UOW is dedicated to providing support to our vulnerable students as much as possible and I’m pleased to see so many student-support initiatives taking place throughout the UOW community, as there is nothing more important to us than the health, wellbeing and safety of our students.

“We are preparing for a staged transition back to campus in the coming months and we are looking forward to reactivating campus life as we gradually welcome students back to classrooms,” Professor Wellings said.

In addition to this initiative, UOW is supporting domestic and onshore international students who are experiencing financial or personal difficulties due to isolation or lost employment via various financial, health and wellbeing programs. More information about these programs is available at: www.uow.edu.au/coronavirus/