The AMS Food Bank: Supporting the Community One Can at a Time
Picture this: you just finished class, your stomach’s rumbling louder than your lecture mic, and all you want is something to eat. You open your fridge, nothing but a sad half jar of peanut butter and maybe, just maybe, one questionable banana. Your wallet is empty, and pay day is 7 days away. This is the unfortunate reality for many students on campus. But here’s the thing, these students don’t have to face it alone. That’s where the AMS Food Bank and PEACH Market come in.
The Heart of Campus Care
Tucked right on campus, the AMS Food Bank is more than shelves of groceries, it’s a space built on care, compassion, and community. Everyone’s circumstances look different, and that’s okay. Whether you’re an international student figuring out a new home, someone balancing tuition, rent, and part-time work, or just someone who had a tough month, this space is for you.
Working together with Hospitality Queen’s, the Food Bank also runs the PEACH Market, where you’ll find warm meals, friendly faces, and the reminder that asking for help is always welcome here.
Food Insecurity at Queen’s: The Reality
Food insecurity isn’t just a statistic, it’s something many students quietly face every day.
According to the 2023 Shift Survey:
- 39% of students said “I couldn’t afford to eat nutritious meals” was sometimes or often true.
- 28% said “The food I bought just didn’t last, and I didn’t have money to get more.”
Team Testimonials
Behind every stocked shelf and open door is a team of hardworking students who care deeply about keeping this service alive.
Caroline Ding, Food Bank Head Manager, says it best herself:
“My time working at the AMS Food Bank has been one of the most eye-opening experiences I have had here at Queen’s.
In 2023–2024, I began as a volunteer, meeting and connecting with different patrons for the first time. It was deeply moving to see the real impact of food insecurity on campus. I witnessed how thin our resources were and how much pressure that placed on the management team. What stood out most to me was the strong sense of community that the head managers built despite these challenges. Watching how they supported both patrons and volunteers was incredibly inspiring and made me want to contribute even more.
In 2024–2025, I stepped into the role of supervisor. It was my first time holding a leadership position at the Food Bank, and I remember feeling nervous as I navigated patron inquiries and daily challenges. Over time, I learned a lot about communication, compassion, and problem-solving. I also saw firsthand the positive changes that Abdullah made to make operations more fair and sustainable behind the scenes, which motivated me to apply for the Head Manager role.
Now, in 2025–2026, serving as the Head Manager has been both rewarding and humbling. It is not an easy job to balance fluctuating inflation costs while ensuring we have enough food each week for everyone who depends on us. I often hear stories from patrons about their personal struggles, and it can be heartbreaking to know that our resources only go so far. Conversations with patrons have made me realize how varied and personal food insecurity can look. Many are managing family responsibilities or unexpected challenges, and those exchanges have reminded me that even small, consistent efforts from our team matter. Sometimes, making decisions as the Head Manager is difficult because it often comes down to tradeoffs between the types of products we can offer or how far our budget can stretch. Finding more sources of funding is also a challenge. But through it all, the volunteers are the backbone of our operations. Their energy, consistency, and kindness make everything possible, and I’m genuinely grateful for their help and commitment. My supervisors are incredibly dedicated people, always willing to step up and support our outreach events beyond their regular shifts. My assistant managers are equally remarkable in the way they fill gaps, strengthen operations, and ensure that both the Food Bank and the PEACH Market continue moving toward a sustainable future. Working alongside my whole team has made this experience truly special and inspiring.”
Serena Shan, Food Bank Assistant Manager, shares:
“Working at the AMS Food Bank has been an incredibly meaningful experience. Every day, I’m reminded of both the impact we’re able to make and the challenges that still remain. Talking with our patrons and learning about how the service has helped them is so rewarding, but at the same time, it made me realize of how much more needs to be done. For example, we can’t yet operate as a complete “take-what-you-need” service and our limited resources mean we often have to make tough decisions about how far our support can go. For now, our reach mostly extends to individuals who need to feed themselves, but not always to patrons that have families who have more mouths to feed. This reality is quite frustrating, because we see the need so clearly and wish we could do more for those who need it most. Food insecurity is such a pressing issue, both on campus and in the wider Kingston community, and this experience has shown me not only the importance of access to food, but also the dignity and compassion that come with assisting others to meet basic needs.
I’m endlessly grateful for the campus clubs and community partners who organize food drives and donation campaigns with us. Their support not only raises awareness about our service but also helps us stock our shelves to better support our patrons. I’m also so thankful for our committed, reliable staff team and our incredible volunteers, since their compassion and dedication are what makes this service possible.”
Elsa Kureshi, PEACH Market Assistant Manager, says:
“Working across both the Food Bank and PEACH have been equal parts rewarding and nerve wracking. We’re in a position of great responsibility, ensuring that students across campus get equitable access to nutrition. I’ve had to learn how to balance compassion and person-ability with the unforeseen stresses that have come from our unprecedented levels of turnout. Something that surprised me the most was the amount of students students that come in with their children – and with our resources stretched too thin we aren’t able to support their baby items. If it wasn’t for our incredible team of the most empathetic and hardworking people I know, I can’t imagine the Food Bank being able to accommodate as much as we do now.”
Annie Zhang, Food Bank Supervisor, adds:
“Working as a supervisor for the AMS Food Bank and PEACH Market has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my time at Queen’s. Every week, I love getting to know our patrons — students who balance classes, work, and life — who make the time to access our services and connect with us. It reminds me that food insecurity isn’t just about access; it’s about the compassion, understanding, and sense of community we share. Whether I’m restocking produce or serving soup at PEACH, I’m constantly reminded of the importance of creating a space built on respect, care, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel supported and welcome.”
And from Matisa Zarif-Abkenar, Food Bank Supervisor:
“Working at the Food Bank has been an exciting and fulfilling experience. The team is supportive and passionate, making every day meaningful. As a supervisor, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is managing the limited space while trying to meet the growing needs of our community. Despite this, connecting with patrons and seeing the impact of our work has been incredibly rewarding.”
How You Can Help
A community only runs when we all lift each other up. Whether that means donating a can of soup, volunteering a few hours, or spreading the word, every bit counts. Supporting the Food Bank isn’t just about giving food. It’s about giving care, dignity, and hope. It’s about saying: you’re not alone, and you deserve to eat well.
So the next time you walk across campus, think of the students who keep these shelves stocked, and the ones who walk through those doors. Because at Queen’s, we believe that when one person reaches out a hand, the whole community stands stronger.
Visit the AMS Food Bank and PEACH Market
Check them out on campus, bring a friend, or ask about how you can get involved.
And don’t forget, community care starts with you.
AMS Food Bank
Location: 87 Union Street in the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC) Room 212
Hours of Operation: Fall 2025
- Mondays, Wednesdays — 5:00PM to 7:00PM
- Thursdays — 12:00PM to 2:00PM
Peach Market
The PEACH Market offers ready-to-eat meals sold at a low cost using an accessible ‘pay what you can’ operating model.
Location: 15 Arch St, in the New Medical Building, 1st floor
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 11 a.m. -2 p.m.
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