Over the past two weeks, the staff and volunteers of The Learning Foundation have worked hard to support food insecure students and families in Hastings and Prince Edward counties:
Here is a brief overview of the support provided and that will be provided:
1)A message has been sent to Hastings and Prince Edward counties’ Principals letting them know of additional supports for their food insecure students, for example the access intake line that the County of Hastings has in place.
2) A partnership was established with Highland Shores CAS staff to provide food vouchers from Food for Learning and this will continue until the end of next week.
3)They will to look to work with local Food Banks to provide them with fruit and vegetable coupons for a $3 off purchase. They’re also requesting from the Grocery Foundation additional coupons which will be shared with food banks in the Southeast Region.
4) Through Food for the Learning Committee the purchase of product most needed by families using Food Banks, i.e. dairy, grains, etc will be facilitated.
5) From Breakfast Clubs of Canada, product will be received such as applesauce, yogurt, and possibly others , which will be shared with families with children, and shared with Food Banks in our Southeast Region
6) To date: 923 of the most food insecure students with immediate food needs, have been or will be supported with grocery gift cards in Hastings and Prince Edward counties. This includes 696 student/families in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. In addition to this, $5000 is being forwarded to the Mohawks of Bay of Quinte for support of students/families. A call line has been set up at their municipal offices, for families/students to access support.
7)Funds from both The Learning Foundation’s Student Emergency Funds and Food for Learning Fund have been used to purchase grocery gift cards.
8)Grocery gift card purchases have also been made possible by donations from Kellogg’s, the Belleville Senators, the Grocery Foundation, and Breakfast Clubs of Canada, as well as many local grocers.
Donor support is greatly needed at this time. If you would consider a gift, a donation to the Food for Learning and the Student Emergency Fund would be appreciated. This can be done through the website at www.hpelearningfoundation.com and the CanadaHelps online portal.
