All students can benefit from Student Nutrition Programs!
Several years ago the Student Nutrition Program at my children’s school stopped serving food. The program suddenly found itself without a coordinator, and with a number of parents who felt it was unnecessary, it seemed like the breakfast program was going to end. As a teacher who was on maternity leave with my 3rd child, this was very upsetting to me as I had experienced first hand what it’s like to teach students who don’t have enough fuel to get through their day. I hadn’t planned on coordinating a Student Nutrition Program but I just couldn’t stand by and let the program fall apart. So I volunteered for the job!
Breakfast is often described as "the most important meal of the day" and we agree, for many reasons. Studies have shown a direct correlation between eating a nutritious breakfast and how students perform at school.
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.
How One Toronto Woman Ushered in her 60th Birthday feeding 100 children
Yvonne celebrated her 60th birthday a few months ago. It was about the same time the #TooniesforTummies program was taking place in Ontario and in Atlantic Canada.
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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.
