Program gets kids learning without hunger

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

In Thunder Bay, not every child gets a good meal before hitting the classroom, a problem the Canadian Red Cross and Breakfast Clubs of Canada are trying to alleviate at several schools in the city. The two organizations combine to serve a nutritious meal to about 850 kids each school day, an invaluable service, says St. Martin School principal Lorella Costanzo.

"This program is a fairly significant program to the start of our day," Costanzo said on Tuesday. "We have a good number of children who take advantage of this program every day. The number ranges from about 85 to a high of about 110 daily."

That’s about a seventh of the school’s enrolment, she added.

"We do clearly meet a need in the community."

Costanzo said there is no question that children are coming to school hungry, and the benefits of learning on a full stomach are clearly evident.

"They’re more able to focus on their learning. They’re not focusing perhaps on feeling hungry. And there are better outcomes for them – health outcomes and learning outcomes."

Dave McGowan is a volunteer at St. Martin School. Each weekday morning he’s there by 7:30 a.m., starting to prepare breakfast, which can include everything from cheese and yogurt to toast, cereal, milk and fresh fruit.

He sees the program as a complete success.

"It works. Teachers tell us that the kids have a better attitude in the morning. They seem to learn better. So I think that’s what it’s all about," said McGowan, who has all the kids fed and into their classroom by the time the 9:05 a.m. bell sounds and the gymnasium where the program is held cleared by 9:30 a.m.

Combined with seven breakfast programs offered in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay since October 2009, there are 13 programs being staged in Thunder Bay.

Though not necessarily part of the Breakfast Clubs of Canada program, every school in the district offers some sort of food program, be it breakfast, lunch or snacks.

Marsha Edwards, Breakfast Clubs of Canada’s western Ontario co-ordinator said her organization is helping out in several different ways.

"We’ve donated equipment, like refrigerators, conveyer toasters to freezers and some other small items," Edwards said. "We’ve donated direct cash funding, and we’ve also donated from our partners. Yogurt every two weeks goes out to the schools free of charge and also Minute Maid juice and bread," Edwards said.

All totalled, the program has served 140,250 breakfasts.