Together We Can Boost Kids’ Health and Potential

The Grocery Foundation supports student nutrition programs through efforts focused in three key areas: our Toonies for Tummies fundraising campaign supported by shoppers, retailers and sponsors; our Night to Nurture Gala and a Breakfast Program which provides schools vouchers for healthy products at a discount.

When we feed a child good things happen

Mental & cognitive abilities, including better attention and more initiative

Better social skill building abilities

Better behaviour in classrooms

Improving school grades or test scores

Better overall student achievement

Feeding Kids in Your Community

Canadians are known around the world for jumping in and helping others, causes and challenges. Feeding hungry children and shoppers’ support of Toonies for Tummies over the years is further evidence of that giving spirit. It’s simple, donate at a participating retailer during their Toonies for Tummies campaign window. When the campaign returns, you may also wish to make your donation during a Match Funds day when retailers match donations made by shoppers.

We’ve also made enhancements to our online donation capabilities, making it easier for you to not only make a donation at the store, but help feed children several meals during the year.

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Thanks To Our 2024 Campaign Sponsors

Feeding Kids Mental & Physical Well-being

The Night to Nurture Gala offers the grocery and food industry a unique opportunity to come together to make a significant, positive difference to children in Canada. Funds raised through the Gala benefit organizations that nurture the whole child such as Kids Help Phone and breakfast programs in Canadian schools.

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2024 Event Sponsors

Helping Schools Stretch Their Dollars

The school breakfast program was created to provide the neediest schools in Ontario with essential breakfast and/or snack foods. Significant cost reductions on food products are made through the generous support of retailers and suppliers. Members of The Grocery Foundation have a great sense of pride to be able to continue to help ensure children and youth attend school well-nourished and ready to learn. Studies show that well-nourished students have improved memory, problem-solving skills and creative abilities – overall, they perform better in school.

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Industry Partners

Help Us Make Breakfast a Reality for a Hungry Child

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.