After the Bell: Summer Food Security

In Neepawa, Manitoba, and Fort Frances, Ontario, The Salvation Army, with the help of Food Banks Canada, is working to ensure kids can be kids and enjoy summer without having to worry about hunger.

For students and families who rely on school feeding programs, summer can be a difficult time. The After the Bell summer nutrition program helps students facing food insecurity when school is out. Through Food Banks Canada, participating food banks receive pre-packed bags with non-perishable items that can be distributed throughout the summer in addition to funding to purchase fresh produce.

From Food Banks Canada, “After the Bell provides nutritious, child-friendly food packs throughout the summer when school-centred supports are not available so kids can soar on the swings and splash in the community pool with their friends.”

The packs contain shelf-stable items such as milk, hummus, crackers, cereal, oatmeal and sunflower seeds. They also receive grant money to supplement the food packs with perishable items such as apples, sugar snap peas, cheese, and yogurt.

In Fort Frances, The Salvation Army has been part of the After the Bell program for four years. This year, they partnered with the recreation centre’s day camp to provide weekly packs to children over eight weeks. Over the course of the summer, they distributed 240 packs and nearly $1,000 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Jill Cousineau, summer program supervisor for the Town of Fort Frances Summer Programs Camp, says the packs have been a big hit, with many parents enquiring where they can purchase the items because the students enjoy them so much.
As day camp staff handed out the packs, one child exclaimed: “It’s like Christmas morning!”

In Neepawa, The Salvation Army food bank distributes the packs every two weeks and support 34 families who are referred by local schools or are clients of the food bank.