Over a million Ontario students will have access to healthy food at school again this school year thanks in part to the support of Student Nutrition Ontario (SNO), The Children’s Foundation Food & Friends Program and their partners.

 

As students head back to school, many are looking forward to accessing healthy food provided in one of the province’s 4,500+ student nutrition programs - 104 in Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph. Last year, over a million students were served by SNO (19,000 in Food & Friends programs) as part of an effort to ensure that every child and youth arrives at school well-nourished and ready to learn.

 

Food & Friends breakfast, morning meals, snack and lunch programs are offered in elementary and secondary schools across Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph. These programs provide an atmosphere of social inclusion amongst students who may otherwise feel marginalized. Students demonstrate decreased disruptive behaviours in the classroom; learn healthy eating habits and build stronger social skills.

 

With seed funding from the Province of Ontario (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services administered regionally by YMCA Kitchener-Waterloo), Food & Friends and partners such as Tim Hortons (Smile Cookie Campaign), Hendrix Genetics, Breakfast Club of Canada, and The Grocery Foundation work to support the success of local school nutrition programs by teaching healthy habits; offering nutritious foods; and building supportive communities. They are the unified voice that connects an extensive network enabling students to eat, learn, and succeed.

 

Volunteers are the program’s lifeblood – they show up day-in and day-out, making a lasting impact on the futures of children. Without the support of community volunteers, we would not be able to feed students each day in every part of Ontario.

Food & Friends is looking forward to another successful school year! If you would like to help children and youth in Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph arrive at school well-nourished and ready to learn please get in contact with our Outreach & Administrative Coordinator, brenda@childrensfoundation.org.

Anita Macfarlane

Program Director, Food & Friends

E-mail anita@childrensfoundation.org