Student council members at UNB Saint John are working to combat food insecurity on campus.

The new Smart Bags program offers students two or three days worth of food every other week.

Wellness coordinator Angel Côté said food insecurity is a major issue among post-secondary students.

“We have been brainstorming ideas on ways to tackle this issue,” Côté said in a recent interview.

“Without access to food, students cannot focus on their studies and perform their best.”

UNB Saint John currently has a wellness centre, where students can drop in and grab some food.

But Côté said they began to realize it does not reach the need that students currently have.

More than 30 students have already signed up for the free program — a number she expects will rise as the semester goes on.

“I’m hearing great feedback from staff and students on campus. I think it relieves a lot of stress because they’re guaranteed to get some food,” said Côté.

Students simply need to fill out a form on the UNB SRC’s website to register for a bag of food.

Registration closes every second Tuesday at noon, including March 7. That gives the SRC a week to prepare the bags and make special accommodations to allergies or dietary restrictions.

Food bags will be available for pick-up from the SRC office (Room 214, Thomas J. Condon Student Centre) the following Tuesday. That same day, registration will open for one week for the next round of smart bags.

The UNB Alumni Association provided the money needed to start up the program. Côté said she hopes the program can continue as the years go on.