News in Easy English: University students start food bank to help classmates in Niigata
Food prices have become very high, and many students say they can't buy enough food. Some students say, "Vegetables are expensive, so I don't buy them often." Other students say, "I wait until I'm very hungry to eat."
The student food bank, called "Soleil," started in April this year. On June 24, they gave food to 65 students at the university campus. Each student received about eight kinds of food, like 5 kilograms of rice, cup noodles, and some snacks.
Miku Yoshimura is 20 years old. She said, "Food prices are high and I'm busy, so it is hard to do part-time jobs. I'm thankful for this help. I'll share this food with my younger brother."
Another student, Kozue Yamashita, 20, said, "Rice is now twice as expensive as it was two years ago. This rice I received is very helpful. Now I don't have to worry."
Soleil asked about 170 students how many times a day they eat. More than 30% said they eat two or fewer meals a day. About 64% said they worry about having enough food. One student said, "I only eat one cheap meal a day."
Yumi Oiwa, 20, is one of the student leaders of Soleil. She said, "Students need more help now. We hope to help more students and make this food bank bigger." Soleil plans to continue giving out food at the university regularly.
They would also like food and money donations from local shops or groups.
(Japanese original by Sayuri Toda, Niigata Bureau)
Vocabulary
food bank: a group that gives food to people who don't have enough
campus: the place where a university or college is
donation: giving money or things to help people in need
part-time job: work that you can do for only a few hours or days a week
leader: a person who guides others in a group
regularly: happening often; again and again
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