THUNDER BAY – A pre-class meal always gets the brain waves flowing, say students and administrators at St. Bernard Elementary School.
On Friday morning a group of mostly Grade 3 students from the River Street school marched a couple of blocks, sign in hand, to thank the manager of the north side Metro location for his store’s assistance in their breakfast program.
It’s awesome, said nine-year-old Ruby Melchiorre.
“I feel it’s a really good way to be focused and energized throughout the day if you don’t have enough time in the morning to eat,” Ruby said after helping present Chris Sorel with a bright yellow poster signed by most of the students at her school.
“They have healthy choices for you. My favourite is the Cheerios and milk. I also like all the fruit too.”
The morning menu includes oranges, porridge, cereal.
“Just a lot of stuff that will make you smile,” Ruby said.
Vice-principal Anita Treesh says the universal grab-and-go breakfast program is open to each and every student at the River Street school and funded through the local chapter of the Red Cross and the Grocery Foundation of Canada.
“Children are allowed to come in in the morning and have something nutritious to eat before they go to their first class in the morning,” Treesh said.
The benefits are obvious, she added.
“We’ve found it to be very important. It’s helped with children being more focused. They’re happy in the morning. It’s a universal program, so anyone can attend,” Treesh said.
“Sometimes children have a long bus ride and needed something a little extra. It could be something very simple.”
Sorel said they’re only too happy to help out in some small way.
“Our role is to make sure the items are available for sale, so they can buy the freshest product possible,” he said.
Feeding people is his business.
“Kids who start the day with a good meal usually start out better ready to start their day,” he said.
