Child Nutrition Program welcomes students

Lyndsey Ross, parent coordinator for the West Lynn Child Nutrition Program in Simcoe encourages the community to get involved and help feed a hungry child. 

Alex Hunt

Advocate Correspondent

Community volunteers keep West Lynn’s child nutrition program alive

With enrollment climbing and demand for food growing, West Lynn’s Child Nutrition Program is asking for what it needs most and that’s more volunteers.

Simcoe’s West Lynn Public School brings back its annual Child Nutrition Program so that no student can go hungry. Students that are fed proper nutrition are more focused on their educational demands which allows them to excel within their academic studies.

Lyndsey Ross, parent coordinator for West Lynn Child Nutrition Program, is asking the community to volunteer for the program if they are seeking to fulfill a rewarding experience for themselves. She expects there will be more need this year due to higher student enrollment.

With around 550 students, last year the program provided 94,000 morning meals for hungry children. Each student is provided with two vital food groups that encourage brain development and focus. 

“The majority of volunteers are parents, and they come in the morning, they check for allergies and pack the cooler bags for the students,” said Ross. “There are produce or protein options in each meal or a produce and a grain. It takes a good 45 minutes to set up every morning. We have students that come in and deliver the food to the classroom.” 

Ross explains the program’s Provincial funding has not increased for over a decade and heavily relies on monetary donations from community businesses.

“We partner on various food drives. Our budget is extremely small, per kid and per day, we really have to work hard to serve these students and donating makes a world of difference.”

The program faces the challenge of lack of volunteer participation, and without volunteers, the program could close or reduce volumes. They expect to feed almost 590 kids this school year. 

“Ideally, always having an extra body is great and we have parent volunteers that come in the afternoon as well who will help clean up,” said Ross. “They will prepare food for the next day as well; we have to make sure we stay on budget which is important.

“The local grocery stores are great to us. No Frills has always been so accommodating, and Superstore will break their price match rule for us. We have a few parent volunteers that work at Sobeys and will sometimes bring their overstock of products to the school.” 

Ross said that many people don’t realize the program is open to every child, regardless of financial background. It is a non-discriminatory environment and welcomes any student who needs a meal. The drive is to make sure hungry kids have food in their stomachs.

Teachers consistently praise the program, noting the huge difference it makes in the classroom.

“My message to the community is, thank you for the continued support and if anyone is looking for something rewarding to get involved with, whether it’s with any of our amazing schools in Norfolk County, don’t hesitate to call the office and inquire about helping with the child nutrition program in your community,” said Ross.