For many students in Woodstock and the surrounding area, going to school hungry is part of their daily routine. Now, local volunteers, schools, and other concerned parties are working to change that.
There are currently 38 schools and 10,000 students in Oxford County who benefit from a nutrition program; this is up from just one school 10 years ago.
A program that provides healthy food to children, it is run almost exclusively by volunteers and is reportedly making a big difference in the pupils’ lives.
It is believed that kids who get a good breakfast have more motivation, make better grades, have fewer episodes of acting out, and show less absenteeism than those who don’t.
Not every child who goes to school hungry does so because of poverty; some have two parents who work, and even if the food is available, the kids don’t seem to have the time to eat a healthy breakfast before they leave for the day.
The food program at each school follows nutrition guidelines set by a dietician and inspected by health inspectors. The need is not the same at every school; some need more help than others.
Much of the money needed to run the programs comes from fundraising and donations from members of the community.
Banner printing companies can help by creating promotional materials for use at fundraising events; these raise awareness amongst the public about the importance of supporting the local school breakfast program.
