Huntsville Community Church Packs Student Lunches with Healthy Snacks

Children in the Huntsville area continue to have full lunch boxes and stomachs thanks to The Salvation Army Huntsville Community Church.

The Healthy Lunch Box program started up in September 2022 with a $13,000 Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters Innovation Grant to supplement lunches with nutritious snacks for students who may not have enough food at home.

“Once a month we put together a mix of purchased and donated perishable and non-perishable items that we package together for each child. A family of three kids would get three packages filled with bananas, apples, cheese strips, juice boxes, pudding and granola bars,” said Major Neil Evenden, Corps Officer and Communities Ministry Officer with Huntsville Community Church.

At the start of each month during the school year, Major Evenden says between 40 and 60 children receive the packages, which are picked up at the church where they are prepared and packed by church staff and volunteers.

“Many of the clients are part of our regular food bank clients. At the start of the program, we bought lunch bags for the students so they could carry the lunch to school,” says Major Evenden.

Shantell is one of the mothers receiving healthy lunches for her boys and she is deeply appreciative of the program.

“I was somebody who always donated to The Salvation Army. Due to COVID, and many other cost increases in all aspects of life, this program has been a huge help to my family. The fresh fruit and all the items in this kit are a very important part of packing healthy lunches for the kids, especially when healthy items are very highly priced,” Shantell says.

Sharon is another program recipient who is provided with lunch packages for her sons each month.

“With this program I know that they are getting some great, nutritious snacks for school and are often getting some fresh fruits that are a bit too pricey for me to buy regularly.  The variety of items each month is great also. It has made a difference in our lives, so thank you,” Sharon says.

Along with the Innovation Grant funds, Major Evenden says the church also received a $10 000 donation from our mission partner, the Muskoka Community Foundation, to fund the Healthy Lunch Box program, which will continue to run during the school year.

To support the Healthy Lunch Box program in Huntsville and to help give hope through life-changing programs and services, please visit www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.