The Food Security Action Group of the Poverty Task Force meets on the 1st Friday of the month. Here are highlights from the most recent meeting. Please contact Robin Cork, food@unitedwaybg.com to join the group.
The National School Food Program is rolling out across the country as agreements are made between federal and provincial governments. Details for Ontario are not yet available as the agreement has not been signed. We will be sure to make an announcement when details are available.
Hayley Hundt from our local Grey Bruce Ontario Student Nutrition Program (ONSP) let us know that there are 61 schools in our region that would benefit from the program. She can be contacted directly to answer any questions you may have at hayley.hundt@von.ca. We are hopeful that the program will be in addition to the provincial supports in place and we will not see a reduction in supports in Ontario. Ontario Student Nutrition Program Impact Report 2023-2024 (attached).
Ontario Coalition for Healthy School Food: Over the past few weeks we’ve had meetings with policy staff in the Ministry Finance, the Premier’s office, and the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services MCCSS to present our Ontario school food proposal (attached) which recommends that the Ontario government accept federal funding and increase its provincial investment to stabilize and grow school food programs in Ontario. Here’s what we’ve learned:
- The Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (MCCSS) is actively working on a deal with the federal government to receive national school food funds, and we should be hearing more about it in the coming weeks.
- MCCSS is leading the negotiations with the federal government.
- MCCSS confirmed that federal funding will support existing student nutrition programs (SNP) and funds will flow as they do now to Lead Agencies through MCCSS.
- They’re still looking at making policy changes recommended through the SNP review, but for now they are concentrating on getting funds out the door.
We’ve also reached out to some of our Chapter members and supporters to ask for help setting up meetings with some Ontario MPPs to educate them about school food and the opportunity to leverage federal funding to further enhance the provincial program. Thanks to everyone who has helped so far – we have ~20 meeting requests to MPPs sent out already, and further outreach is in the works.
Newfoundland and Labrador are the first to reach an agreement with the federal government through the new National School Food Program. This initial investment of approximately $9.1 million over three years will help more kids get access to school food. In the coming weeks, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia are expected to follow suit.
Many of our local Food Banks are providing school snacks for clients.
OSHaRE Lunch Program: in 2023, we shared 9,667 school lunches with children in local schools. To date in 2024, they have shared over 14,000 school lunches. School lunches are picked up by local schools or provided to families referred to OSHaRE through local agencies.
Feed Ontario – Ontarians are Drowning Amid Surging Affordability Crisis: released a new report.
- 1,001,150 unique individuals visited a food bank between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, an increase of 25% over 2022-2023.
- Food banks were visited 7,689,580 times between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, and increase of 31% over 2022-2023, and 134% over 2019-2020.
- 2023-2024 is the eighth consecutive year food bank use has risen in the province.
United Way of Bruce Grey Backpack Programs: As of Friday, August 30th, 2,664 students have received fully stocked backpacks, thanks to the incredible support from the Grey Bruce community. That’s 195 more than last year.
United Way of Bruce Grey Community Fund Grants 2025: call for applicantions from registered non-profits/charities in 3 categories –
§ From poverty to possibility –We are looking for initiatives that meet people’s basic needs for food, shelter and safety; as well as those that ensure individuals have opportunities to seek stable and sufficient employment, and make education, training and learning opportunities affordable and accessible for all.
§ Healthy people, strong communities –We are looking for initiatives that reduce barriers and isolation for those with addictions and mental-health issues through counselling, referrals, rehabilitation and other services. As well, services that support seniors and individuals with physical, intellectual and emotional disabilities.
§ All that kids can be – We are looking for organizations that are supporting the healthy growth and development of young people. This means actively targeting the source of their challenges and working to address systemic issues.
To apply and gather more details please visit: https://unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/about-us/community-impact-grants/ Please follow the links on the website to do the applications. Do NOT use the PDFs to fill out the applications. Deadline is Friday, December 13th, 2024.
Grey Bruce Good Food Box: the full season is up and running with all locations.
Stay well, Robin
Robin Cork, Food Security Coordinator, United Way of Bruce Grey