Every Breakfast Counts launches 2020 programming
Friday, June 26, 2020
The Every Breakfast Counts committee is pleased to announce that 2020 summer programming will begin on Monday, June 29 and run for eight weeks, with a target of delivering 3,300 meals weekly.
Nutritious food boxes (including items such as fresh fruit/vegetables, milk, cheese and bread) will be distributed free of charge through Algoma Family Services’ Student Nutrition Program, Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services Community Hubs and the Indigenous Friendship Centre.
“We’ve had to adjust our programming this year as a result of COVID-19, but the committee and volunteers are committed to ensuring children in our community still have access to needed meals,” said Mayor Christian Provenzano. “We are grateful for the hard work of volunteers, and the continued support of our community.”
Lock City Dairies’ staff have volunteered to assist with the packing and distribution of meals. All staff and volunteers will follow public health recommendations and ensure meals/food are packaged in a safe manner.
“I continue to be impressed with the support demonstrated by our community,” said Mike Nadeau, Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services CAO. “I am confident we will keep positively impacting youth moving forward despite COVID-19, and we are hopeful the public will continue to support our efforts.”
Every Breakfast Counts is seeking donations, and anyone interested in making a financial contribution is asked to do so through the Algoma Family Services Foundation at: afsfoundation.ca.
For any inquires related to Every Breakfast Counts programming, please contact Emily Tremblay at 705-945-5050 ext. 2422 or Alex Pasiak at 705-945-5050 ext. 2112.
“Every Breakfast Counts has been a great opportunity for our team to utilize expertise developed through our Student Nutrition Program,” said Emily Tremblay, AFS Community Services Supervisor. “By promoting healthy eating and providing meals through nutrition programs such as Every Breakfast Counts, youth have the potential of achieving optimal health, growth and intellectual development, and we continue to make progress in our efforts thanks to the support of the community.”
Background
Every Breakfast Counts was conceptualized in the spring of 2018 as a means to address a service gap in the community by providing meals to youth who rely on breakfast programming offered during the school year. $50,723 was raised in only a few weeks; supporting the program’s operation for at least the summer of 2018 and the summer of 2019. In 2018, 1,779 meals were provided over seven weeks and 6,300 meals were provided over nine weeks in 2019.
Ongoing coordination is facilitated by the Every Breakfast Counts committee, comprised of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Mayor and CAO Offices, Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services, United Way Harvest Algoma, Algoma Family Services, Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, Child Care Algoma and EarlyON Child and Family Centre and the Indigenous Friendship Centre.