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Abstract

Canadian university students experience food insecurity at rates more than double the national average. Existing solutions, such as food banks and free meal programs, often rely on continuous external funding and are perceived as stigmatizing. Therefore, current strategies that support students' provision of free food are limited in their sustainability and accessibility. Addressing these challenges requires innovative models to operate without dependencies while normalizing access to free meals. This thesis contains foundational work toward assessing student-led restaurants' capacity to support campus food security strategies. A restaurant model, "Agora," was (re)designed to serve affordable meals during the day and use its revenue to provide free evening meals. This research study aimed to assess Agora’s financial viability, operational capacity, and impact on reducing the stigma associated with food security initiatives. This study employed financial analyses and surveys to evaluate the Agora model. Operational data were analyzed, including revenue, expenses, and item utilization. Three surveys targeted customers, a campus-wide student sample, and evening dinner attendees to assess affordability, awareness, and stigma. Agora processed over 7,000 transactions, generating approximately $40,000 in revenue, self-funding over 3,000 free evening meals, and saving students an estimated $50,000 collectively over one academic year. Agora operated with a positive cash flow throughout the first semester and a negative cash flow in the second semester. Surveys revealed that over half of Agora's users were, or had recently been, experiencing food insecurity, indicating that its services reached students needing support. Feedback indicated that no stigma was associated with using Agora's services, and students expressed high acceptance of the food quality and nutritional value. Based on these findings, the Proof-Pride-Precision Trilemma (PPPT) is introduced as a potential framework for balancing effective targeting of food security resources while reducing stigma within food security initiatives. Findings suggest that a volunteer, student-led restaurant can be a viable and sustainable approach to addressing campus food insecurity with minimal financial support. However, volunteer management and year-round financial oversight remain key challenges for long-term success. Establishing and strengthening partnerships with local food suppliers and campus stakeholders could further strengthen the model's resilience and impact.