A tiny table of food donations grew into 'Distro' and now feeds 125 Waterloo university students each week

At the Distro, volunteers flash a friendly smile when students arrive. There's music playing as people move around the room. And there's a plate of doughnuts to snack on or warm meals packaged and ready to go.

The Distro, short for distribution, is held in an empty classroom at Martin Luther University College in Waterloo each Thursday. Students can go, bag in hand, and pick up food they might not be able to afford.

They'll find non-perishables like pasta and canned beans there, but also fresh food like broccoli, potatoes and the ever-popular bananas.

The welcoming and welcomed space was born out of the pandemic and the growing realization that some students were struggling as the first wave of provincial lockdowns also shuttered some of the historic on-campus supports.

Shannon Lee started using the Distro in April when they found themselves in a position of food insecurity.

"I didn't really have any resources and I was really not having a great time funding my own grocery bills," the third-year music student at Wilfrid Laurier University said in an interview.

"Coming to Laurier's food distribution, it was just [a] welcoming environment. Everyone was smiling. Nobody asks you any questions, either and so there's not that level of guilt or feeling embarrassed for needing support."

Lee continues to use the Distro, but is also a volunteer.

WATCH | Shannon Lee talks about what the Distro means to students:

Shannon Lee on Distro

3 years ago

Duration 0:51

Shannon Lee uses and volunteers at Distro at Martin Luther University College in Waterloo, Ont. They explain what it's like to see food insecure students access items they need and want, including canned goods, fresh vegetables and snacks.

Students struggle during pandemic

The Distro is run by the college in conjunction with the Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group.

Karly Rath, the group's volunteer and community engagement director, said she spoke to Rev. Anne Anderson at the college in October 2020 about how the pandemic was really hard for students.

"And so we said, 'You know what? We need to do something about this, especially around food,'because we were really hearing that from students," Rath said.

Rath and Anderson set up a little table with food at the college and about two students showed up.

But word got out.

Now, about 125 students attend the Distro each week.

"It just feels amazing to watch a student come in and take what they choose, not just something they're given. Take something that they want to create a healthy meal with," Anderson said.

Not only is there food available, but the group also stocks toiletries, menstrual products, cleaning supplies and some pet food. Sometimes, there are even small household pieces, like a lamp, up for grabs.

'They're in a crunch'

Rath said there's no pressure on students who use the Distro to give back. Some say they feel guilty taking food without giving something in return, but the volunteers make it clear there are no strings attached.

Anderson says she knows some in the community might think of university students as kids who want to party. But she says she's seeing students struggling to make ends meet.

"I see students who are in need, they're in a crunch, they haven't been able to work, they haven't been able to do the things they normally do to earn money, to pay for what they need to live."

Lee says the Distro creates mixed feelings.

"The way that their faces light up and it's happy, it's a good moment if you have access to this food," they said.

"As much as I love watching a frat guy's face light up when he sees salad, it also shouldn't be like that because they should have access to that no matter what and not have to come to us."

CBC K-W's annual Sounds of the Season campaign raises food and funds for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

• Read more about what you can do to support the food bank this year.