Child Nutrition Network supports school programs

Peggy Garbedian, Boston Public School parent volunteer, holds Farm to School apples delivered by Dave Douglas, Child Nutrition Network volunteer driver.

Brenda Moser

Advocate Correspondent

Norfolk County is very fortunate to have soil and climate conditions that are conducive to growing and harvesting a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Some of these crops are shared with local schools, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and companies that help fund a Farm to School program.

The Child Nutrition Network was established in 1998 under the umbrella of Haldimand Norfolk REACH, the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, and several community members and organizations. Sharon Smyth, program coordinator for the CNN, works for REACH and has been with them for about 18 years now.

There are 44 schools who benefit from the program and Smyth is responsible for about 35 of those schools. CNN supports 49 breakfast, morning meal, lunch and snack programs. In total they provide nourishment to over 9,300 Haldimand-Norfolk children and youth 2-5 days per week, depending on the need. The program is universal for all students and anybody can access it.

The Farm to School program has been running for over 14 years and they are fortunate to be able to work with the Norfolk Fruit Growers, where they keep their apples in cold storage and berries in freezers until needed.

In Caledonia and Dunnville, the Salvation Army offers fridge and freezer space for their use. 

At present there are about 100 farmers under the umbrella of Norfolk Fruit Growers. Community clubs and organizations are also very generous in their donations to help cover any costs incurred for the program. They also benefit from fundraising.

The program runs from October to June and Smyth stated they have been very fortunate in having an abundance of fruit and have only run out one or two times. Smyth describes the program as a real win-win for everyone.  As with many other school programs, Farm to School relies on volunteers to step forward to pick the apples up (in Simcoe), once a week on Tuesdays, and deliver them to the schools on the list. They are very appreciative of their delivery driver, Dave Douglas, who volunteers his own time to pick up in Simcoe and drop off at the various schools on that day’s list. They also rely on parent volunteers at each of the schools to keep the program running.

The Snack Program, run by the several schools, can also offer such things as fruit cups, applesauce, smoothies, sometimes cantaloupe… all healthy and never high in sugar and certainly not chocolate.

I met up with one of the parent volunteers, Peggy Garbedian, when I visited Boston Public School.

 “The students might try something they’ve never had before and discover they actually might like it,” said Peggy.

Apples remain available to the students all day with bins in the office, gym and guidance room. They’re able to grab an apple any time. 

The Snack Program has been a great experience for Garbedian.

“It’s a great partnership hanging out with the kids… I’m very lucky. We’re always looking for parent volunteers. Word of mouth seems to work and we welcome seniors as well to apply. “ 

There is a large number of funding partners - provincial, regional and local - and a list can be found at www.hnreach.on.ca . The success of such programs can only succeed with community support and a huge thank you goes out to each and every one of them.