Nutrition for Learning estimates it would take six times its budget to feed hungry children in Waterloo Region
Local organizations helping to feed hungry students who arrive at school admit they are far from meeting demand.
According to Erin Morahan, CEO of Nutrition for Learning, feeding the region’s approximately 100,000 students would require six times the current budget.
“There is a huge misconception that nutrition for learning and other food programs are fully funded by the government,” Morahan said. “This couldn’t be further from the truth. We rely primarily on generous members of our community and businesses.”
He said state funding is only 28% of the program’s total funding, creating a severe shortfall amid unprecedented demand.
The 2023 spending budget for Nutrition for Learning was approximately $800,000, nearly doubling to $1.5 million in 2024. Even with the increase, the organization still has millions of dollars to go to ensure no child goes to school hungry.
The City of Ottawa will spend $1 billion over the next five years to create a new national food program that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said will feed an additional 400,000 students a year.
A federal budget has yet to be approved, but many questions remain for groups like Nutrition for Learning.
“This is great because we have never done a national food program before, but how much will we get and how will this help meet demand from local communities? We don’t know yet,” Morahan said.
“I’m interested in the number of 400,000 students that they’ve expressed that they want to support. In Waterloo Region alone, our program has access to 100,000 students, so I’m interested in what they’re describing. There are many questions.”
Although education is not a federal service, the new program will allow Ottawa to work with provinces and territories and build partnerships with local organizations.
Food4Kids is another local organization that provides support to children struggling with food insecurity, but they are disappointed that no funding is available.
“This new announcement only covers in-school programs, and we are not eligible for that, so we will not receive any funding,” said Food4Kids Waterloo Region Executive Director Stephen Swatridge.
Mr Swatridge told a similar story of not being able to meet demand, saying the service could only support around 1,200 children each month, although thousands more could use it.
“Honestly, it’s a shame that we were left out because we’re trying to help the same kids that are in school and they’re not always in school.” he said.
Mr. Morahan and Mr. Swatridge are closely committed to supporting the community and wish there was a unified program that didn’t stop when the school bell rang.
“This is a time when we all need to work together and bring all our resources together to help these children,” Morahan said.
“Every time I think we’re meeting demand, I go to an underserved school and it’s clear that there are kids who haven’t had breakfast in days.”
The latest hunger report from Feed Ontario and the Waterloo Region Food Bank shows that 2023 saw the largest increase in food insecurity in the organizations’ history.
Feed Ontario notes that the number of new users and visitors is nearly double what it was during the 2008 recession.
“It is clear that now is the time to act, and I hope we can find a path forward to ensure that no child in our region goes to school hungry,” Morahan said. Told.
