School Lunch Program Keeping Students Fed at Westminster Park

Not even a pandemic can stop The Salvation Army Westminster Park Community Church in London from ensuring students make it through the school day with a healthy meal.

Their in-school lunch program continued throughout the pandemic, as Westminster Assistant Ministry Director Melissa Sunnuck realized that it was too important to lose as they tried to reduce the cases of food insecurity among students.

Pastor Melissa says Westminster Park Community Church provides lunches to three elementary schools and one high school in the neighbourhood around the church.

“The schools distribute these lunches to students at risk of going hungry during the school day. During the 2020-2021 school year, we provided 1,270 healthy and nutritious lunches to keep students fed,” Pastor Melissa says.

Though the number of school lunches being provided in 2020-2021 did drop, due to provincial lockdowns and students learning virtually from home, Pastor Melissa has noticed an increased demand among students this year.

“From September 2021-February 2022, we have provided 1,995 lunches this school year. With most students returning to in person learning, the need for lunches has grown significantly,” she says.

On a weekly basis, Westminster Park Community Church brings bagged lunches containing a sandwich, a piece of fruit, a snack (granola bar, Bear Paw, or pudding cup), and a juice box to students, including those at nearby Wilton Grove Public School.

“The students and families of Wilton Grove Public School are immensely grateful for the support of The Salvation Army’s School Lunch Program. Each day we have several students who, for reasons beyond their control, do not have a meal sent with them at school,” says Wilton Grove Principal Kevin Gordon.

Westminster Park Community Church staff and volunteers also hold a weekly community dinner for the neighbourhood from September to November and January to June.

“I pick up meals from the Community Dinner and take them over to my daughter’s house. They help her to provide a hot, nutritious meal for her kids as well as an opportunity to sit down to eat together,” says Mary, a program participant.

“I am a single mom and a full-time student. Community Dinner provides me relief once a week from the pressure of having to make dinner for my family,” says Kathy, a participant in the program.

In July and August, the Church runs a monthly community barbecue where the neighbourhood is invited over for a meal.

“During the 2020-2021 program year, we served 4,192 community dinners. To date, from September 2021 to February 2022, we have served 2,153 meals. We are on track to serve roughly the same number of meals this program year as last program year,” Melissa says.

In the summer of 2020, 261 people attended the community barbecues, while 343 people took part last summer, with food being provided in take out containers. COVID-19 brought a temporary end to Westminster Park’s Community Family Night, but it is expected to start up again in 2022.