Feeding Hungry Children

Every day, 1 in 5 Canadian children go to school on an empty stomach and The Salvation Army in St. Albert, AB, is helping to feed these youth who are often too hungry to focus on learning.

“When we became aware that some children came to school on an empty stomach we wanted to provide them with wholesome food and a nourishing start to the day,” says Kellie McTaggart, Community Services Coordinator for The Salvation Army. “Since September 2016, Feed My Lambs has provided thousands of lunch bags and, in addition, grocery cards for the school to purchase milk.”

Every day, 1 in 5 Canadian children go to school on an empty stomach

Once a month, volunteers gather at The Salvation Army to pack more than 400 bags, which include cereal boxes, oatmeal, granola, breakfast bars and apple sauce.

“Part of our commitment to quality learning involves providing nutritious food for our students in need,” says Marianne Barrett, Associate Superintendent. “We are very pleased to receive your generous support that ensures children in need have a nourishing breakfast at the beginning of the school day.”

McTaggart says public donations and community support keep the program running.

“We partner with grocery stores to buy items at cost, receive donated paper bags, plastic spoons and banker boxes to pack the bags,” says McTaggart.

The program currently delivers lunch bags to 18 elementary schools.

“More schools are opening in 2018,” says McTaggart. “We hope to include them in our program, but our budget only goes so far.”