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SAANICHNEWS Friday, March 29, 2013
School meal programs prove popular – and necessary
Gray Rothnie
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Tillicum community school Grade 1 student Nolan Nyvall, 6, enjoys his Greek salad. On Wednesday the Vancouver Island Greek Community Society served students and staff a traditional Greek lunch, then presented the school with a $3,000 cheque to help fund the meals program. Kyle Slavin/News staff
Donation highlights need for free breakfasts, lunches in urban schools Kyle Slavin News staff
Sandy Matthews knows the impact an empty stomach has on a seven-year-old’s concentration. As the Greater Victoria School District’s CommunityLINK facilitator, she’s in charge of co-ordinating in-school programs that help vulnerable students. One such offering is the school meals program, which aims to feed students who come to school without breakfast or lunch. “We see the difference every day from kids that are being fed. Teachers see them being able to focus more, it helps their learning, they’re happier on the playground, they’re less likely to get into arguments,” Matthews said. “When kids come to school hungry, it’s hard for them to cope. This is a really vital program.” The Greater Victoria district offers a variety of meals programs at a number of schools in the region. Twelve schools have full breakfast programs, where kids can get toast, nut butter, cheese and juice, another 12 receive a cold lunch program, and five have a catered hot lunch program, altogether serving hundreds if not more than a thousand kids throughout the city. “(The cold lunch program is) grab-andgo, brown paper bag lunch that goes to the neediest of the needy; the kids who might come to school without lunch,” Matthews said. “These kids will quietly go into the office and pick up a lunch.”
necessities of life,” Burley said. “It proThe hot lunch program is pay-what-youcan, so some parents pay full price to have vides us an opportunity to develop a more nurturing, welcoming environment where their kid receive a well-rounded, nutritious everyone recognizes a meal every day, while others child’s basic needs are are partially or fully subsi“There’s a huge being met.” dized. On Wednesday, the Van“I think a lot of Victorinumber of working couver Island Greek Comans would be surprised to munity Society cooked the know this is needed, because poor, and I think those students and staff at Tilpeople don’t equate Victoare the ones we’re licum a traditional lunch – ria with poverty,” Matthews assisting most.” souvlaki, tzatziki, tiropita. said. “There’s a huge number “I wish we had Greek of working poor, and I think – Sandy Matthews lunch every day,” said an those are the ones we’re Greater Victoria excited Nolan Nyvall, 6, assisting most.” School District after cleaning off his plate. Lori Burley, principal at The society, in coTillicum community school, operation with Saanich firefighters, also says the meals program is an invaluable presented the school with a $3,000 cheque asset for her students. About 120 kids, or about half the school, use the service each – proceeds raised during last year’s Greek Fest – that will go towards financing Tilliday. cum’s meals program. “It means we’re able to meet the basic “It’s really overwhelming to see the need needs so they’re better prepared to come and the reception we got from the children to school, be at school and be focused and the school,” said Michael Ikonomou, on the learning, rather than on the basic
president of the VIGCS. “Greek Fest is long gone, but we’re still doing things in our community.” Burley said the money will go a long way to assist the school, which also offers snacks three times a day, as well as an after-school program that includes two nutritional breaks. The meals program also includes educational components, where students learn about balanced lifestyles and healthy diets. Matthews said the district is always looking to make more connections with service groups and businesses in the community that may wish to provide assistance. “We would be looking for financial assistance, donation of time or even donation of goods,” she said. “This is a wonderful community-building exercise. We all see the really positive benefits of when these kids are fed.” Organizations interested in supporting the school meals program are encouraged to contact Matthews at 250-475-4241. kslavin@saanichnews.com
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