The event was funded entirely by the university's sustainability scheme Shop, Save and Sustain which is a sustainability initiative ran by the Eat, Shop and Drink team. The Shop, Save and Sustain programme is a circular economy model designed to tackle food waste across campus outlets.
By offering discounted hot meals and allocating £1 from every sale to York-based food charities, the initiative creates a self-sustaining cycle where campus purchases directly support student welfare and local community needs. The distributed goods included fresh vegetables, pantry staples and toiletries.
Jamie Harrison, head of catering and hospitality at the University of York, said: “It gives me great pride in the effort and dedication of the team who used their time to deliver this great event, and the help it provided to over 500 students during what can be a demanding time in the academic year.
“The feedback has been amazing, and we are more focused than ever to support students, staff and local charities as a University for public good.”