Key Points
- Hundreds of pupils at Lord Elgin elementary school in East London will receive holiday food kits to ensure they remain fed during the winter break.
- The kits, provided by Metro Ontario, contain non-perishable, nutritious snacks such as applesauce, oatmeal, and cereal bars, as well as a holiday-themed activity.
- This is the first time the school has received support of this scale for holiday food distribution.
- Educational assistant Kimberley Hawkins and principal Simon Conter highlighted the importance of school breakfast programs, noting that for many children, these are the only reliable meals they receive.
- The Thames Valley District School Board operates over 120 nutrition programs in the region, with hunger-related support requests increasing by 132% since 2020.
- Metro Ontario is running similar initiatives in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Ottawa, distributing over 1,400 breakfast kits across Ontario.
- Food insecurity in the Middlesex-London area has nearly doubled since 2019, with 28% of households facing challenges in 2024.
- The school is also hosting a holiday food drive and collaborating with the London Food Bank and CBC London’s Make the Season Kind campaign.
Why Are East London Pupils Receiving Take-Home Food Kits?
As reported by Andrew Brown and Matt Allen of CBC London, hundreds of pupils at Lord Elgin elementary school, who depend on daily breakfast and snack programs, will take home food kits over the winter holidays to ensure they remain nourished during the break. Kimberley Hawkins, an educational assistant at Lord Elgin, explained:
“When schools let out for the holidays and the breakfast program goes on pause for those two weeks, it could mean the loss of access to a nutritional meal that helps them start their day”.
What’s Included in the Holiday Food Kits?
The food kits, donated by Metro Ontario, contain non-perishable, nutritious snacks such as applesauce, oatmeal, and cereal bars, as well as a holiday-themed activity for the children. According to Hawkins,
“The plan is for Metro to deliver up to 300 breakfast bags to our school and hand them out to students at a year-end assembly. We plan to acknowledge Metro for their wonderful donation and send kids home with the breakfast kits for the holidays”.
How Significant Is This Initiative for the Community?
Simon Conter, the school’s principal, stated that Metro reached out due to its “long-standing relationship” with the Ontario Student Nutrition Program. He added:
“They are going to provide families with a nutritious meal over the holidays, so they have one less thing to worry about during the busy season. It will allow our students to relax and do what matters most – enjoying time with their families, in warmth and with full tummies”.
Conter also noted that hunger-related stress is rising, and programs like this help children stay focused, regulate their behaviour, and have the energy to learn.
“We can’t dictate or help out with what is going on in the broader community, but we can keep kids safe, fed, warm and healthy while they are here at school,” he said.
What Are the Broader Trends in Food Insecurity?
Data from Public Health Ontario indicates that 28% of households in the Middlesex-London area faced food insecurity in 2024, nearly double the figure from 2019. The Thames Valley District School Board operates more than 120 nutrition programs across London and surrounding counties, with hunger-related support requests increasing by 132% since 2020.
How Are Other Schools and Organisations Responding?
Metro Ontario is running similar initiatives in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Ottawa, distributing over 1,400 breakfast kits across the province. The school is also hosting a holiday food drive and collaborating with the London Food Bank and CBC London’s Make the Season Kind campaign to raise awareness and support for those facing food insecurity.
What Do Students and Staff Say About the Breakfast Program?
Phoebe, an eighth-grade student at Lord Elgin, said:
“I believe it’s crucial to energy in morning, active, have the stamina to engage in lessons without feeling drowsy”.
Hawkins, who dedicates many hours each week to keep the program running, noted that for many children, the breakfast program “is the only reliable meal they are going to get”.
What Is the Impact of Food Insecurity on Learning?
Conter emphasized that proper nutrition enhances cognitive function and alleviates behavioural challenges:
“When students are preoccupied with concerns about their next meal, their focus on subjects like math suffers,” he explained.
How Can the Community Support This Effort?
The school’s lobby is filled with boxes of non-perishable food items, and students are encouraged to contribute before the term concludes. Supporting the London Food Bank and participating in CBC London’s Make the Season Kind campaign are additional ways the community can help.
What’s Next for Holiday Food Support in East London?
This initiative marks the first time Lord Elgin elementary school has received such a large-scale holiday food donation, and Metro’s continued partnership with the Ontario Student Nutrition Program suggests further support is likely in future years. The school’s commitment to ensuring all students start their day with nutritious food remains a priority.
