UTMSU’s first Free Dinner Friday of the semester serves more than 200 students, says more dinners to come
The union shared that budgetary constraints limit how many people it can serve at each dinner, and that it is exploring ways to reach more students.

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On October 9, the UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) hosted their first Free Dinner Friday of the academic year at the Blind Duck Pub, serving pre-packaged pasta meals to about 200 to 250 students. 

Rajas Dhamija, UTMSU vice-president external, said in an email to The Medium that these dinners began on November 28, 2025, as a pilot initiative to help address food insecurity on campus. The union held three dinners last year, each drawing 200 to 300 students.

With climbing tuition fees and the cost of living, many students struggle to access affordable, healthy food on campus. As a result, students may resort to skipping meals and eating smaller portion sizes.

According to a 2017 study at the University of Saskatchewan, 58 per cent of international students experienced food insecurity in the year prior, compared to 37 per cent of domestic students. In December 2024, the market research firm Leger published a report commissioned by the Quebec Student Union, stating that 33 per cent of “respondents reported some form of food insecurity over the previous year due to insufficient funds.”

To address rising food insecurity, unions and campus initiatives across the country, including here at UTM, are shifting toward equity-driven frameworks to tackle food insecurity rather than as isolated silos. 

Free Dinner Fridays is part of the UTMSU’s broader Food Insecurity Campaign, aimed at making food more affordable and sustainable for students. 

These dinners were inspired by the union’s long-standing Free Breakfast Wednesdays program, which began in 2014, in addition to other prominent food initiatives, such as the UTMSU Food Centre and the recent establishment of a grocery bursary and limited meal vouchers for regular Food Centre users. 

“This academic year, we’re committed to increasing the frequency of the Free Dinner Fridays. It was also one of the key campaign commitments of my team, IgniteUTM, during the UTMSU elections,” wrote Dhamija. “We’re now focused on following through on that commitment.”

Students who attended the last Free Dinner Friday may have noticed that the food supply ran out rather quickly. 

Dhamija notes that because the pasta was served in pre-packaged meal boxes, it may have appeared to have run out unusually quickly. “While we can only serve a limited number of students at each event due to budget constraints, we recognize the high demand and will continue exploring ways to accommodate more students moving forward.” 

According to Dhamija, however, the student feedback to Free Dinner Fridays has been “overwhelmingly positive.” He mentioned that a student had personally reached out to him about the success of these dinners. “It’s messages like these that motivate us to keep improving and expanding these programs.”

If students have questions about the UTMSU’s initiatives and strategies to combat food insecurity, or would like to share feedback, they are encouraged to email Dhamija at vpexternal@utmusu.ca.

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