The St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village is gearing up to launch our second annual “After the Bell” food support program. While children and families enjoy the warm temperatures, relaxed agendas, and fun activities that summer brings, some children feel the loss of lunch programs provided in their schools during the academic year.
The number of families in our community that need our help continues to be very high and a lunch program can be a lifeline for food-insecure children. By providing nutritious, accessible food during the summer months, the program ensures children can enjoy their summer, stay healthy, and return to school ready to learn.
We know the summer months can introduce additional stressors for families already struggling with the high cost of living. There can be additional child care costs parents will face once the kids are out of school, coupled with the continuing rise in food prices we are all experiencing.
Our goal is for the “After the Bell” program to provide peace of mind for parents when they know their children can continue to receive food outside of the school year. This enables the children to enjoy summer activities without the worry of hunger.
The lunch packs we create are “kid friendly” and include shelf-stable items like peanut-free granola bars, cheese dippers, juice boxes, crackers and fruit bars. Fresh produce can also be added to augment the packs. We are also able to make up packs for kids who require a more specialized diet, such as peanut-, sugar- or gluten-free. We prefer a flexible approach to the frequency the children can access the program. Some will only need it a few times over the summer, while others may need it on a weekly basis.
The St. Albert Food Bank will again partner with the St. Albert Library, St. Albert Family Resource Centre and the Salvation Army, who will help to distribute the packs to the kids who need them. This targeted approach ensures food reaches children who need it most, including those attending community partner programs.
Many summer programs include day camps where the children gather, ensuring children in need receive food they can sit and eat with their peers without the fear of embarrassment. For those children coming from homes with limited resources, this inclusive approach eliminates barriers and allows every child to feel accepted and part of the community. In addition to literally feeding their bodies, sitting down together provides a natural opportunity for friendships to develop as well.
We strongly value our many community partnerships, and this initiative highlights our shared commitment to support the families in our community. Partnering with community agencies in dispensing the food packs will continue to create that broader sense of community cooperation and the families will benefit from being part of that supportive network that extends past nutritional support.
