Nutrition program goes beyond tackling childhood hunger; sets students up for success
WINNIPEG, Nov. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - Breakfast for Learning (BFL), a national charity funding school-based nutrition programs, today announced the completion of a renovation at Dalhousie School in Winnipeg. The reconstruction, made possible by a generous donation from The Brick, has transformed the school's popular breakfast program and made it accessible to even more students.
The remodeling was made possible by BFL's new Social Impact Grant initiative launched earlier this year in conjunction with four grants in Alberta. The program, which goes beyond providing funds for food and equipment help schools develop facilities and programming to enhance nutrition education, build life skills and create leadership opportunities for students.
"Breakfast for Learning's Social Impact Grant has allowed us to really elevate the services we can offer the community, starting with ensuring all our kids begin their day with a nutritious breakfast, " said Ted Fransen, Superintendent of Education for Pembina Trails School Division.
One in six Canadian children face hunger every year and it has a significant impact on their ability to learn and function. Fifteen per cent of Canadian children and 40 per cent of Aboriginal children live below the poverty line.
In Manitoba, BFL currently funds 47 nutrition programs, 18 of which are based in Winnipeg. The charity's support will provide 963,995 meals to more than 5,700 children in Manitoba this year alone. Across Canada, BFL funding will impact more than 238,000 children, by providing more than 40 million meals through 1,887 programs in 2015.
While there are many reasons children come to school hungry, school-based nutrition programs, like the one at Dalhousie School, provide a solution.
"We are delighted to see the results of our new grant stream which will allow school nutrition programs to support more kids and broaden their impact on the community," said Samantha David, Executive Director, Breakfast for Learning. "We strive to give Canadian kids the best chance to succeed. Research tells us that when children participate in nutrition programs, their attendance, behaviour, mood, test scores and comprehension improve."
At Dalhousie School, located in the south end of Winnipeg, the grant has already made a difference. The recently completed breakfast room renovation updated existing equipment and furnishings to create a family-friendly space which encourages community use. The elementary school serves 420 students in grades Kindergarten through six. Most of the student population is new to Canada, coming from more than 50 countries.
Dalhousie School's grant, made possible with funding provided by The Brick, is allowing the school to serve more children, more effectively, in addition to providing space for complementary programming like English language classes, and other learning opportunities.
"We are thrilled to be a part of this meaningful initiative," said Jim Caldwell, President of The Brick. "You can already see the difference it's making in the lives of children and their families at Dalhousie School. We hope even more students will want to participate in the program and spend time in the beautiful new space."
To learn more about BFL visit breakfastforlearning.ca.
About Breakfast for Learning
Breakfast for Learning is committed to helping children across Canada realize their full potential in life by ensuring that all children attend school well-nourished and ready to learn. A national charity focused on child nutrition, Breakfast for Learning has been supporting school based nutrition programs in every province and territory for 23 years. Since 1992, Breakfast for Learning has helped 3.8 million children enjoy over 594 million healthy meals and snacks. For more information or to donate, please visit www.breakfastforlearning.ca.
SOURCE Breakfast for Learning
Image with caption: "Students at Dalhousie School enjoy a nutritious breakfast in a renovated room made possible by Breakfast for Learning's Social Impact Grant supported by The Brick. (CNW Group/Breakfast for Learning)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151118_C5232_PHOTO_EN_548568.jpg
Image with caption: "When a child is hungry, it's hard to learn (CNW Group/Breakfast for Learning)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151118_C5232_PHOTO_EN_548563.jpg
Tia Thomas, Consultant, Environics Communications, [email protected], (647) 203-4035
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