Prince George Secondary Launches Food Program to Combat Hunger

At Prince George Secondary School in British Columbia, a new initiative aims to address food insecurity among students and their families. Principal Randy Halpape has recognized that many families are struggling to provide enough food as the cost of living continues to rise. He emphasizes the urgent need for solutions, stating, “Some families are finding it harder and harder as the cost of living goes up. They have less money to go around.”

To tackle this challenge, Halpape and Maria Turay from the Prince George school district have developed a program designed to send food home with students. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap for families who often face uncertainty about their next meal outside of school hours.

“Students often leave school for the day wondering when their next meal will be,” Turay explained. While the school has been effective in providing breakfast and lunch, there is a notable absence of support during evenings and weekends. To address this gap, the program will offer food kits that contain ingredients for simple, nutritious meals that families can prepare at home.

Turay stated, “The meals will be simple yet nutritious and easy for most high school students and caregivers to make themselves.” These kits will be distributed at the end of the school day, with the goal of equipping students with cooking skills they can use in the future.

The program is not just about providing recipes; it is designed to offer budget-friendly meal options along with comprehensive instructions. “We want to factor in budget-friendly meals and give instructions that are more than just a recipe,” Turay added. This approach aims to empower students and their families to prepare cost-effective meals independently.

To support this initiative, the school is seeking a grant of $25,000 from the Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund, which manages the Adopt-A-School campaign. This funding will help cover the cost of the food kits, in-school snacks, and essential items such as clothing for students in need. The goal is to provide approximately 125 meal kits each month to families facing food insecurity.

Many of the families requiring assistance are located in rural areas, where access to supermarkets is limited, making it impractical for the school to provide grocery cards. Consequently, food supplies will be delivered directly to the school for distribution. Halpape noted that food costs in the region are significantly higher than in urban areas, further exacerbating the challenges faced by these families.

As the community navigates a transition towards new economic opportunities, Halpape reflected on the loss of higher-paying jobs in traditional sectors such as forestry. “So, the need is there for families. And our goal is to support them,” he affirmed.

The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund has been active since 2011, distributing over $15.1 million in aid to schools across the region to combat child poverty. This funding has provided meals and essential support to children in need. This fall alone, the Adopt-A-School program has received 164 requests totaling $1.5 million from various schools.

All donations to the program are directed to schools without any administration costs deducted, ensuring that every dollar makes a direct impact.

For those interested in supporting the initiative, donations can be made online at www.vansunkidsfund.ca or by calling 604-813-8673. The school community is eager to implement this program to ensure that no student goes hungry.