It’s nearly three times what the students’ union had hoped to raise.
A GoFundMe for the University College Cork (UCC) Students’ Union food bank has raised over €14,000 the day after it ran out of food in less than an hour.
The fundraiser was set up by the students’ union on Wednesday, when its food bank ran out of food less than an hour after it was relaunched as a result of financial difficulties experienced by students in light of the current accommodation crisis.
As of 5pm on Thursday, the GoFundMe had raised €14,107 nearly three times what had been hoped when it was initially launched.
“We are overwhelmed by all the generosity and support our food bank has received over the last 24 hours,” the students’ union wrote on Twitter on Thursday morning.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, shared, or spread the word.”
We are overwhelmed by all the generosity and support our food bank has received over the last 24 hours. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, shared, or spread the word 💕
— UCC Students' Union (@UCCSU) October 7, 2021
The GoFundMe donations will be spent on purchasing food and essential products for the food bank to directly support students who need them.
The students’ union is also continuing to accept donations of food and hygiene products at its offices on 54 College Road from 10-1 and 2-5 Monday to Friday.
On Wednesday, the students’ union relaunched its food bank as a response to the financial hardship students were facing as a result of the accommodation crisis, rising rents and the costs of living associated with being a student.
However, despite receiving “loads of generous donations and being restocked”, students at the university had to be turned away after the food bank ran out of food in less than an hour.
According to the students’ union, over 100 students attended the food bank on Wednesday.
The UCC Students’ Union President said that the fact they ran out of food so quickly is “heartbreaking”.
In a tweet, Asha Woodhouse penned: “50 minutes in we’ve run out of food and have had to turn students away.
“Heartbreaking to not have enough and to see so many students experiencing food insecurity.
“Is this the UCC and country we are supposed to be proud of?” she asked, tagging Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris in the tweet.
You can donate to the UCC Students’ Union GoFundMe page here.
50 minutes in we’ve run out of food and have had to turn students away. Heartbreaking to not have enough and to see so many students experiencing food insecurity. Is this the @UCC and country we are supposed to be proud of? @SimonHarrisTD https://t.co/dpGdOrZCnm
— Colm Foley (@UCCSUPresident) October 6, 2021
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