UCC has been forced to reopen a food bank for struggling students.
The students union say they are disheartened to announce the reopening of the service this afternoon but have to step it to help students due to the increased cost of living, the cost of being in higher education.
Many students had to turn to Penny Dinners in recent weeks for help as UCC’s website estimates that students can expect to pay a minimum of €500 per month rent in a house share, and up to €1,000 per month for a room in some student accommodation complexes.
The UCC food bank will provide non perishable items as well as hygiene product hampers for students.
UCC Students Union Welfare Officer Caoimhe Walsh told RedFM News that students have been contacting them since the Summer so she wasn't surprised to see the Food Bank reopening.
"I think it's a real thing that is happening at the moment is that a lot of students are struggling financially, and they can't really rely on their parents either, especially since during the pandemic a lot of parents would have lost their jobs and they wouldn't have had as much money coming in.
"It's really hard to see, but I wasn't surprised - none of us here were to be honest."
