The need for holiday food hampers at St. Albert Public Schools more than tripled this Christmas season in comparison to previous years.
During a typical holiday season, St. Albert Public Schools makes 40 to 50 hampers that go to families of students in the district who need extra support. This year they made over 180, according to Paula Power, communications manager of St. Albert Public.
“I just think it’s indicative of what we’re seeing in society at large,” Power said. “Cost of living has gone up so significantly. The cost of food has gone up so significantly, and families are struggling.”
Principals at St. Albert Public Schools identify families who could benefit from the hampers – typically by noting which students access the schools’ breakfast and lunch programs frequently.
“The intent is that these kids and their families have something to eat over the next few weeks,” Powers said. “It’s an expensive time of year; it’s a stressful time of year.”
The increase in the number of hampers this year indicates that more students are making use of the schools’ breakfast and lunch programs, according to Powers.
When she visits schools, Powers has noticed that students are frequently coming into the office and asking for snacks.
“It’s distressing to see,” she said. “Hungry students can’t learn to the best of their ability. If we want to give students a fighting chance to be able to do well, and concentrate in school, they have to be nourished. I mean, that’s just one of our basic needs.”
Putting together nearly 200 hampers was challenging, but Power said the district was lucky to have the support of the Saint City Rotary and the St. Albert Sobeys.
“It’s a big team effort,” she said. “Our facilities team picks everything up. Outreach students will come and help unload the groceries, and people in our division office come and help when they can … Our boardroom gets taken over for a few days with all the food you can imagine. It’s quite the production.”
