Feeding Hungry Minds

Salvation Army St. John's school lunch program provides multi-layered benefits to hungry students
by SalvationArmy.ca
Categories: Articles, Feature, Mobile
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Did you know that more than one third of those helped at food banks are children and youth? These are kids who go to school on empty stomachs, whose hunger robs them of dignity and whose inadequate food supply affects their ability to learn.

In Canada, one in seven children lives in poverty. The Salvation Army recognizes that poverty is a critical issue and, in 2013, provided close to 105,000 meals to children through its school feeding programs.

For example, in St. John’s N.L., more than 100 students from St. John’s Booth Memorial and Bishops College enjoy a free lunch hosted by The Salvation Army every Tuesday.

“The school lunch program is part of The Salvation Army’s mission to meet human needs,” says Major Brian Wheeler.

Close to three years ago, a teacher at Bishops College was burdened by the number of students coming to school without lunch because they couldn’t afford it and approached The Salvation Army for help.

“Our church is strategically placed in the centre of the two high schools,” says Wheeler. “The schools use our facility for special events and we felt a free lunch program for the students would be a great extension of our ministry.”

During the school year, up to 150 kids line up in the church gym each week to gobble down anything from spaghetti and mac and cheese to chicken wraps and soup. Included are fruit and vegetables.

“For some, this is their only meal of the day,” says Sarah Kean, Community and Family Services Coordinator. “Others say that without the program they wouldn’t eat lunch.”

The benefits to providing students lunch are multi-layered. Kids have access to a balanced, nutritious food. They are better prepared to concentrate and learn. And a healthy lunch provides energy to participate in physical activity and interact with peers—both of which are important for student overall health and wellness.

“It takes a lot of money to stock our food shelves,” says Sarah. “Target Canada recently contributed $10,000 to our lunch program. Partnerships like this allow The Salvation Army to stretch its dollar, further supporting those who are experiencing hardship.

“We are making a significant impact on the lives of these kids. At the end of the school year they ask ‘will you be hosting the lunch program again in September?’ That tells me it’s a worthwhile program.”

Note:

Target Canada supports Salvation Army school lunch program for hungry students

Target Canada supports Salvation Army school lunch program for hungry students

As part of its commitment to assisting families in need by providing access to food and education, Target Canada donated $160,000 to support The Salvation Army’s meal and snack program for school-aged children in 22 communities across Canada.

Photos: 1. Salvation Army volunteers prepare lunch for students. 2. Target Canada presents The Salvation Army with a cheque for $10,000 to support the program.