Tuesday September 1, 2020
Food for Kids normally supplies locally sourced food through school nutrition programs. When the pandemic emergency was declared, a grant from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund allowed Food for Kids to purchase gift cards to send to school families, and purchase food in partnership with Kawartha Food Share to distribute to food banks.
“School principals have personally gone to families’ homes to deliver gift cards and parents have been brought to tears when they receive the gift cards,” said Ashleigh Callan, Registered Dietitian with Food for Kids and Peterborough Public Health. “It has given principals and school chaplains a chance to connect with families in a very special way and they are grateful for that.”
This is a good news story, but more needs to be done.
“There are currently 51 student nutrition programs in Peterborough city and county, and we expect that about 40% of the programs will need to restructure how they serve their programs this fall,” says Ashleigh. “Sit-down or buffet type programs will no longer be allowed so additional cooler bags, ice packs, bins, and possibly additional large equipment like fridges and freezers will be needed in order to offer programs where all students have access to healthy food.”
The COVID-19 Community Response Fund supports ongoing recovery needs as charities and vulnerable residents continue to adapt and recover from the effects of the pandemic.
Please give generously – we are stronger together.
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