UNSA: Free Food Friday
UNSA
Food waste is a terrible thing. It’s even more terrible during a pandemic, when many students are struggling financially and trying to put food on the table, for themselves or their families. UNSA aims to provide all kinds of services for students throughout their studies – but sometimes, the best and simplest thing we can do is keep you well fed, so you can focus on all the other challenges life throws at you each day.
Free Food Friday is a weekly service we provide in partnership with OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation. Every week, OzHarvest rescues over 100 tonnes of quality surplus food from more than 3,000 food donors (including supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, hotels, airports and food outlets) and delivers it directly to more than 1,000 charities and non-profit groups. Including us!
Every Friday at 9am, we have a truckload of food all bagged and ready for hungry students to collect. The available produce changes each week depending on the haul, but usually includes fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, some frozen meats and a handful of ‘special items’ like sweets, soft drinks or toys.
This food is free! There’s no catch and no cost. As long as you’re a current student, you can come in and collect your food basket.
The food is limited, however, and it goes quickly. While we open at 9am, we usually see students queuing from as early as 8.30am, and by the end of the first fifteen-minute rush, there’s very little left. It’s first in best dressed, so you’ll need to get in early for the best selection. Unfortunately, we cannot set food aside for you, or take orders in advance.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.