New chapter of provincial organization aims to combat food insecurity for school children

People all over Muskoka, Ontario, Canada and the world face food insecurity. It’s even more detrimental to society when it’s children who are not being appropriately fed.

Those children can easily be left behind academically and socially if they don’t have the proper nourishment to fuel their energy levels. Plus, malnourishment can lead to extreme anxiety and other mental health issues.

There are many families and children throughout Muskoka that have very real economic challenges and a lack of food security. To help combat this issue for school children, a new not-for-profit charitable organization has started up with the mission of providing weekend food packages for those in need of help.

Food4Kids Muskoka is led by a group of community members who are addressing a need in the community where hundreds of kids leave school each weekend knowing that there might not be food when they get home.

There are an estimated 2,500 kids in Muskoka with limited or no access to food each weekend. Food4Kids provides packages of healthy food every Friday for kids aged 4 to 13 years with limited or no access to food each weekend.

During an interview on The Chris O Show for The Bay 88.7 FM, two board members, Sarah Thatcher and Michael Fox, spoke about the need. Both Fox and Thatcher are educators who have witnessed first-hand the stifling impacts that hunger can have on children.

“We noticed a huge need for children to have food on the weekends,” says Thatcher. “What we’re going to do is fill that void. We’re going to provide food on Fridays, it will be delivered to schools and children will be able to take it home with them to enjoy over the weekend.”

“One in eight Canadian families have food insecurity,” says Fox. “We see this in our schools and in our community . . . This program I found really attractive because we can work with schools in our community and families in our community right away.”

It takes $15 per week, $60 per month to feed a student. The organization buys wholesale to stretch the dollars as far as they can go. Unlike food banks, Food4Kids Muskoka does not accept food donations as they have specific items that fill nutritional needs while also allowing for discretion as to not embarrass those in need of a helping hand.

Food4Kids Muskoka’s effort is only the first step in the process of changing the structure of food security in Muskoka, Ontario and beyond. Advocacy, awareness and education are key parts of the conversation and finding a sustainable solution to this issue.

To this effect, community volunteers will be an essential part of the organization and program, says Fox.

AUGUST PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOD CO-OP

In terms of supporting Food4Kids Muskoka, August is the perfect month to visit the North Muskoka Good Food Co-Op. Thatcher says Co-Op general manager Kelli Ebbs has offered them a tremendous opportunity for awareness and fundraising.

“Everyone who purchases products at the North Muskoka Good Food Co-Op, they will be able to round-up their purchase to donate to Food4Kids Muskoka,” says Thatcher. “This will be big help to kids in our community and directly help us feed kids.”

For more information or to get involved, email: Sarah@food4kidsmuskoka.ca or visit: www.food4kidsmuskoka.ca

Plus, make sure to stay tuned for the full interview airing on The Bay 88.7 FM and online this month.

Here is a sneak peak of the podcast …