Having enough to eat should be a given in college life. For many students, it isn’t. In a 2024 Léger survey of Quebec CEGEP and university students, one in four respondents reported cutting portions or skipping meals in the previous year because they lacked money.

At Champlain, a weekly routine is helping ease that pressure—and giving students in Adam’s PACE a meaningful way to learn and contribute.

Each Wednesday, PACE students prepare food pantry orders for fellow students. They gather supplies, pack bags and deliver them to Student Services. Their work also includes shopping, checking inventory and replenishing shelves: practical opportunities to build math, budgeting, shopping and problem-solving skills.

The service has grown. Julie Paquette, Adam’s PACE coordinator and teacher, remembers filling about four orders a week. Today, the pantry averages around 14, supporting more than a dozen student households with groceries and everyday essentials. Since summer 2023, 229 orders have been filled.

“They’ve mastered it.”

That confidence shows in the details. When more pickup space was needed, PACE students assembled a 25-cubby shelf together in class.

Orders go into plain black reusable bags, and pickup details are shared privately. Students prepare the bags without meeting the recipients. The care is there, even when the people giving and receiving it never cross paths.

For PACE students, the pantry builds skills and independence. For those collecting an order, it offers a little more room in the grocery budget. Both benefits start with the same act of care.

Spread the word and help stock the shelves. You’ll be hearing more about the pantry. In the meantime, tell a friend and bring unopened, non-perishable food donations to Student Services.