THE FOOD SHARING PROJECT

AS A PARTNER IN THE ONTARIO STUDENT NUTRITION PROGRAM THE FOOD SHARING PROJECT TYPICALLY PROVIDES 4-5 TONNES OF FOOD EVERY WEEK OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO 88 ELEMENTARY SECONDARY AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SITES ACROSS THE CITY OF KINGSTON FRONTENAC COUNTY AND LENNOX AND ADDINGTON COUNTY. THE VALUE OF FOOD THAT IS PACKED BY VOLUNTEERS AND DELIVERED BY STAFF EXCEEDS $20 000 EACH WEEK. VOLUNTEERS AND SCHOOL STAFF PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEAL AND HEARTY SNACK PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE TO ANY STUDENT REGARDLESS OF NEED IN A STIGMA-FREE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT. SCHOOLS PROVIDE FOOD IN A VARIETY OF WAYS DEPENDING ON THEIR CAPACITY: GRAB AND GO STATIONS IN-CLASS OR DELIVERED FOOD BINS AND COOLERS OR SIT-DOWN BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES. EDUCATORS AND RESEARCH TELLS US THAT STUDENTS WHO EAT NUTRITIOUS FOOD AT SCHOOL ARE MORE ENGAGED IN THEIR LEARNING CAN FOCUS BETTER ON TASKS AND CAN HAVE MORE POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THEY ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AS ADULTS. STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD AT SCHOOL CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT SCHOOL HAS TO OFFER.

THE FOOD SHARING PROJECT RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND TO DEVELOP AN ONLINE E-LEARNING COURSE DIRECTED AT SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM COORDINATORS AS A WAY TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING TO ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO OPERATED MEAL AND SNACK PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS. THE COURSE WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2024 TO BE ROLLED OUT SEPTEMBER 2024. IN 2023-2024 THE FOOD SHARING PROJECT LAUNCHED A SCHOOL FIELD TRIP INITIATIVE WHERE CLASSES VISIT THE ORGANIZATION'S WAREHOUSE AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO NUTRITION MEAL PLANNING BUDGING CREATIVE ARTS AND WITH EACH VISIT CULMINATING IN A COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPERIENCE OF BAGGING FRUIT THAT IS SENT TO SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY SCHOOLS. THE FOOD SHARING PROJECT WAS A FORTUNATE RECIPIENT OF A GRANT FROM THE ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION'S LAST ROUND OF ITS RESILIENT COMMUNITIES FUND TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL FUND DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL TO DEVELOP SPECIFIC TOOLS INTENDED TO DIVERSIFY AND ENHANCE FUND DEVELOPMENT. THE WORK BEGAN IN MAY 2024 AND WILL CARRY INTO EARLY 2025. IN THE MAY 2024 FEDERAL BUDGET A NATIONAL SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAM WAS ANNOUNCED WITH THE INTENTION OF FUNDING TO BE FLOWED THROUGH EXISTING PROVINCIAL STUDENT NUTRITION PROGRAMS. AS OF THE FISCAL YEAR END OF AUGUST 31 2024 DETAILS ON THE MECHANISM AND AMOUNT OF FUNDING DISTRIBUTED LOCALLY HAVE NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.