Help us nourish hungry tummies

A donation of $250 will help feed a child a healthy breakfast for half of a school year

 
"Learning cannot happen on empty stomachs. For many of our students not having to worry about food is a first step in their successful learning journey." Volunteer from Ottawa Network for Education

Why We Need You

child's drawing thanking donors for filling their stomach
drawings of three children

1 in 3 children are at risk of going to school on an empty stomach, and the student nutrition programs that help nourish them continue to see an increase in the number of children attending.

Make An Impact In Your Neighbourhood

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100% of your donation will help nourish hungry tummies at local* student nutrition programs

Track Your Toonie
"The Grocery Foundation played a crucial role in our efforts to promote healthy eating habits within the school community. The students were not only delighted but also gained valuable insights into the importance of nutritious food choices."Specialized Educator and Breakfast Program Coordinator
"Learning cannot happen on an empty stomach. For many of our students not having to worry about food is a first step in their successful learning journey."Volunteer from Ottawa Network for Education
"The nutrition program is extremely valuable for our students, sometimes it is the only nutritious meal they will have in a day."Volunteer from school in Brampton, Ontario
"Donations have significantly impacted our school's Student Nutrition Program, allowing us to go above and beyond in meeting the needs of our students and fostering a positive and nourishing environment."Breakfast Program Coordinator
"We have, on multiple occasions received phone calls from parents indicating that they have not sent their children to school because they do not have food to send with them, for lunch. Toonies for Tummies provides us with the funds needed to feed our hungry students."Anonymous Volunteer
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"Children should always have access food to grow they are our future"Grocery Foundation donor

* Online donations will remain in the province of the donor

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.