The Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) has been approved for federal funding aimed at supporting and improving school food and nutrition programs in the province.
The SSBA is one of ten groups overall to be approved for $20.2 million in funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s School Food Infrastructure Fund. The purpose of the fund is to “support the purchase and installation of infrastructure and equipment that increases the capacity of community organizations to produce, process, store, and distribute food for school food programs” according to AAFC’s website.
It will also “strengthen wider community and local food systems through investments in infrastructure that expand the reach and impact of school food programming” and “help ensure that children have the nutritious meals they need to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.”
“No child should go hungry at school. We’re working with the provinces and territories to deliver our National School Food Program and partnering with trusted not-for-profit organizations to build up the infrastructure and purchase the equipment needed for school food programs across the country. Together, we can make sure our kids have the healthy meals they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.” said Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
“Our National School Food Program is helping parents with grocery costs and making sure kids get healthy meals at school. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re teaming up with trusted partners to get schools the tools and kitchen upgrades they need to feed more kids.” said Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
The Association is approved to distribute $1 million to local groups offering food programs. They will use the money for it’s project to expand school food infrastructure in the province, called “Expanding school food infrastructure in Saskatchewan: Ensuring equitable reach”.
“Nourishment is required and so this is another piece of the whole puzzle of ensuring that happens, that students are well fed and they learn and achieve within our schools.” said President of the SSBA Dr. Shawn Davidson of the importance of food security and how that can be achieved by supporting food programs.
Davidson says there will be an application process to distribute the funds.
“The grants will be delivered to the partners of our school divisions, so this would be organizations like Chili for Children comes to mind, or local Lions or Kinsmen Clubs or those sorts of things that are involved in the preparation and delivery and provision of food to the students,” said Davidson. “Our divisions and their local community partners will be able to put together an application for funds under this program…(and) then the money will be granted to these projects based on their merit.”
Davidson adds “stay tuned” for more details on how the project will roll out.
A news release from SSBA notes outcomes from the project they’re aiming to achieve with the project include “increasing the capacity of organizations to provide or upgrade food preparation spaces, storage, equipment, and transportation/delivery that improve the food environments within schools and strengthen community food security.”
The Association also said it will “monitor the progress of recipient activities” and support the program through its School Food Roundtable.