A full stomach can ensure students achieve their full potential, making breakfast the most important meal of the day, says The Breakfast Club of Canada.
This month, the non-profit is conducting fundraising drives at Tri-City Walmart stores and the Port Coquitlam Costco to raise funds for the program that provides healthy breakfasts for students in eight School District 43 schools as well as hundreds of other schools across the country.
People can add a donation to their bill when they cash out at the till, the Breakfast Club coordinator says.
Danelle Kvalheim said the money is used locally to provide food as well as equipment to help local schools provide the program, and the current fundraising drive is an important factor in expanding the program so more schools can offer it.
“There’s definitely a need and it’s growing,” said Kvalheim.
In fact, there’s a waiting list of eight SD43 schools for the program, which provides a morning meal based on the Canadian food guide recommendations, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein.
Costco will be accepting donations through Sunday, Sept. 15 while Walmart will be accepting donations to Oct.4.
Kvalheim said the Breakfast Club works with the school district to decide which schools benefit the most. As well as food, which costs $2 per day per child, the club also provides equipment, including a commercial dishwasher at one Tri-City school that serves breakfast to more than 120 students each day.
Once a program is established, all students can partake, she said.
“We want it to be a universal program. It’s important the programs aren’t stigmatized, everyone who wants breakfast and who is hungry can get breakfast, so they can focus on their studies and being with the friends and not being hungry throughout the day.”
Donations toward the program will also be accepted through the Breakfast Club website at www.breakfastclubcanada.org.
