Airdrie students get most important meal of the day

There’s a reason why school breakfast programs are popping up all over Canada.  Kids aren’t eating at home, often because there’s no food for them at home and sometimes because there just isn’t’ time.

An Airdrie mom is jumping on the breakfast bandwagon and has rallied local businesses to help her get other residents on board to feed local students the most important meal of the day.

Nancy McPhee who is with Stephen’s Backpacks Society in Airdrie has partnered with Suzanne Turner, who is a manager with Superstore in Airdrie to spread awareness of the value and importance of a nutritious meal first thing in the morning. McPhee has been a regular volunteer with the breakfast program run at Airdrie’s George McDougall School which is completely organized by caring volunteers and teachers along with Superstore.  They have been supplying approximately $130 worth of food every week.  Surprisingly, 35 to 50 students take advantage of the free breakfast every day at George McDougall.  The need is growing and other Airdrie schools are considering implementing a breakfast program to meet the needs of students who may not have the resources at home for a healthy meal.

McPhee told Airdrie media recently that she hopes corporate sponsors will step forward and that cash donations will come in from the public to help get breakfast programs in other Airdrie schools up and running.  Airdrie Superstore has been prolific in its support of George McDougall School’s program but can’t shoulder the responsibility of looking after all hungry kids in local schools.

This initiative is in addition to programs already in existence in the city such as Snack Attack, funded in part by RBC and Airdrie Alliance Church.  Emergency food items are available to 22 schools throughout Airdrie and are available for kids on an as-needed basis. The Airdrie Food Bank operates a school breakfast program at R.J. Hawkey School every weekday morning beginning at 7:15 am.  The need is there and with our tentative economy now in Alberta, the need is only going to get bigger.

What You Can Do

McPhee and Turner are hoping that families with students in Airdrie schools can help by donating gift cards for various Airdrie grocery stores and take them to the office.   First, determine whether the school your children attend are operating a breakfast program or thinking about it.  If not, looking into the next nearest school or simply bring to George McDougall and volunteers there will make sure they’re well used.

Schools that are thinking about a breakfast program may simply need a parent volunteer to help kick off the program.

Part of the issue in starting a breakfast program that care must be taken to distinguish the haves from the have-nots.  Privacy concerns dictate that families’ personal circumstances cannot be revealed or even inquired about and the circumstances as to why children come to school without breakfast can’t be discussed.  But the issue about who deserves breakfast at school and who doesn’t is of lesser importance than the issue of children arriving hungry and not ready to learn.