Salvation Army Supports Students One Lunch at a Time

The Salvation Army in North Bay, Ont., is making a difference in the lives of local students through their school lunch program, which provides meals to children whose families are experiencing food insecurity.

The program helps multiple schools in the city including elementary and high schools. Major Stephanie Watkinson from The Salvation Army in North Bay explains the importance of this service.

“At the school level, we are seeing a 50 percent increase in students coming to school without food.”

“The goal is to meet that gap,” Major Watkinson says. “Many families in our community, like everywhere else, are fighting food insecurity. Children are going to school without lunches, and many schools don’t have lunch programs. This helps provide a little bit of food for the children midday so they can have some nutrition and keep on learning.”

The school lunch program assists any student in need. The Salvation Army receives direct requests from schools. School staff are aware of which students require assistance and will specify the number of meals needed. Schools handle the private delivery of these meals to ensure that no student feels singled out.

“We drop off the box of lunches, and the schools know who the students in need are. The students come to them, and it’s done with as much dignity and respect as possible,” Major Watkinson adds.

Lunches are carefully planned to provide a balanced and nutritious meal, including a source of protein, fruit, and healthy snacks.

“We pack items like a chicken snack with crackers, fruit, juice boxes, and granola or cereal bars. We try to make the lunches as healthy as possible,” Major Watkinson says.

“It helps students focus on their learning. If they are focusing on learning, they are growing their skill sets.”

With the need for assistance growing, the program relies on community support. Volunteers help pack the lunches, ensuring that the service runs smoothly and that students receive the food they need each day.

Major Watkinson says that the students’ performance in school improves when they are not distracted by hunger.

“It helps students focus on their learning. If they are focusing on learning, they are growing their skill sets, and are able to plan for their future better because they are not paying attention to the need for food, which I think is critical.”

The positive impact of the program is felt across local schools.

“At the school level, we are seeing a 50 percent increase in students coming to school without food. The help provided by The Salvation Army is an integral component of student assistance each day,” says Gillian Kajganich, principal of West Ferris Secondary School.

Tammy Melnyk, principal at Woodland Public School, also had positive words to say about the program.

“Your contribution goes beyond food. It provides hope and reassurance to our entire community.”

In 2023, this program served over 8,000 school lunches across the city. To maintain strong support, The Salvation Army in North Bay recently hosted an online auction to raise additional funds for the program.

“My gratitude goes out to people for taking the time to support our program, because it is needed within our community,” says Major Watkinson.

By Juan Romero