Breakfast Programs offer a Safe Place for all!

When I think of a school breakfast program, I visualize a child sitting at a table eating a bowl of whole grain cereal, a crisp red apple with a cold glass of milk. What I cannot see is the reason for which this child attends the program. Hunger is my guess; however, a school counsellor gave me a different viewpoint.

When I think of a school breakfast program, I visualize a child sitting at a table eating a bowl of whole grain cereal, a crisp red apple with a cold glass of milk. What I cannot see is the reason for which this child attends the program. Hunger is my guess; however, a school counsellor gave me a different viewpoint.

You see, her client, "Clara" [not her real name], suffers from an anxiety disorder. The thought of going to school has always been a struggle. Simple things like meeting people, getting on a bus, walking and entering the school causes feelings of unease and sometimes panic. As a means for coping, Clara attends her school breakfast program, enjoys a piece of toast, a fruit and yogurt and prepares for the next phase of her day… getting to class. For Clara, the breakfast program represent a safe place to fuel up, calm down and collect her thoughts to gently move into class mode; and for this, she is thankful!

~ From Julie T, a coordinator for the student nutrition program at Algoma Family Services.

Algoma Family Services (AFS) is a mental health organization that oversees the delivery of the Student Nutrition Program in Algoma.

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Chasing dreams should be part of every child’s day. Going without breakfast shouldn’t be.

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We are so grateful to Canadians who support Toonies for Tummies during our annual store campaign and, year-round, online.

You may know on April 16th, the Federal Government confirmed plans to support student nutrition programs. Specifically, the budget has announced the creation of a National School Food Program, which will provide $1 billion over five years to Employment and Social Development Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada, starting in 2024‑25.

You may wonder what does this government funding mean specific to the need and our efforts to fundraise?

Without a doubt, we continue to need your support. While many student nutrition program leaders are encouraged by the incremental government support, many have taken to the news and social media to confirm even with this support, funding gaps will persist.

The Grocery Foundation's Vision, that no Canadian child goes to school hungry, remains fully intact. Our work continues and remains vital to support hungry children through their school’s student nutrition program. There is no change whatsoever in our focus, our mission, or our reliance on your support.

The programs we help fund are universal in nature. That means all children who require a healthy meal have access. Those on the front lines of these programs affirm their positive impact and positive halo beyond the day’s nutrition, from attendance, behaviours to the school community and mental health. The programs you help fund also support foundational nutrition knowledge and social skill building, as many programs include mechanisms for student involvement in menu planning, food preparation and serving of food to peers.

Thank you for choosing to support hungry children in your community, nourishing their health, well-being, academic success while fostering their school community. With your continued support, we will continue to help dreams take flight and nourish over 3,000 programs and neighbourhoods, yours among them.