Filling Bellies, Fueling Minds: Sextant’s Fight Against Food Insecurity, by Ikhlas Mohamed Iqbal
For many students at Dalhousie’s Sexton Engineering Campus, food insecurity has been a persistent challenge. With limited food options available on-site, students often find themselves having to leave campus just to get a meal—an inconvenience that not only disrupts their academic focus but also places a financial strain on an already costly education. Recognizing this issue, Sextant Publishing along with Loaded Ladle has taken proactive steps to ensure that no student has to choose between studying and finding an affordable meal.
We have implemented a series of initiatives aimed at making food more accessible to students on campus. By teaming up with student-run organizations, organizing frequent meal events, and ensuring consistent food availability, We are helping to build a stronger, more supportive community—one meal at a time.
Bringing Food to Campus
One of the biggest hurdles students faced was the simple lack of options on the Sextant campus. Unlike other areas of Dalhousie, engineering students had few convenient food choices, forcing them to spend extra time and money just to eat. To address this, Sextant partnered with The Loaded Ladle, a student-run non-profit known for providing free, nutritious meals to students. Through this partnership, students can now enjoy fresh bagels and soups right on campus—offering both a convenient and cost-effective solution to the problem.
With the partnership with The Loaded Ladle, The Sexton Campus has a variety of food programs aimed at ensuring students have access to meals throughout the week.
• Bagel Breakfasts (Tuesdays & Fridays): A morning boost for busy students, offering free bagels to start the day right.
• Soup Pop-Ups: Unexpected but welcome appearances of warm, hearty soups for students needing a quick and nutritious meal.
• Exam Period Meal Servings: During high-stress exam periods, daily food servings ensure that students can stay fueled while preparing for their tests.
• Biweekly Pizza Drops: Nothing lifts the spirits like a surprise pizza delivery, and Sextant makes sure students get just that every other week.
Giving Back to the Engineering Community
These initiatives are driven by a deep understanding of the challenges students face. Engineering is a demanding discipline, and students are often juggling heavy workloads, long lab hours, and financial constraints. Sextant saw an opportunity to give back—not just by supporting academic success, but by ensuring that students are physically cared for as well.
A Stronger, Well-Fed Community
By making food more accessible, we have not only addressed a pressing need but has also reinforced the idea that a strong community is built on mutual support. Engineering students work hard, and thanks to these initiatives, they can now do so with full stomachs and focused minds.
As The Sextant continues to expand its food programs, one thing remains clear: when students are well-fed, they are better prepared to tackle the challenges ahead. Whether it’s a fresh bagel, a warm bowl of soup, or a surprise pizza, these small gestures are making a big difference—proving that food isn’t just fuel, but a key ingredient in student success.