REGINA — A new partnership between the Regina Food Bank (RFB) and Regina Public Schools (RPS) will enhance students’ ability to access quality food.
Through a first-year phase in funding of $320,000 from the Federal Government’s National School Food Program, the RFB is distributing more nutritious food to select schools with RPS.
“We're focusing on things like fruits, vegetables, that type of stuff. When it comes to prepared meals, there's a lot of work we're doing around integrating vegetable proteins as an alternative to animal proteins,” said RFB CEO John Bailey.
Bailey said their focus is on creating balanced nutrition for students in schools, as youth in Regina continue to access the food bank at high rates.
“About 42 per cent of everyone we serve is under the age of 18, so it's a ton of sort of school-age kids,” said Bailey.
He expects that number to increase with more outreach for their services.
As for the partnership, phase 1 started on Jan. 13 with seven RPS, including Arocla Community School, École Connaught Community School, Dr. George Ferguson Elementary School, Glen Elm Community School, Kitchener Community School, Seven Stones Community School, and Thomson Community School.
For this phase, Bailey said the food bank has provided an additional 12,000 snacks and several hundred of additional meals.
The partnership will expand with five more schools in February and seven more in March.
Mark Haarmann, director of education and CEO, said the 19 schools were selected based on identified needs and existing gaps in nutrition supports across the division.
All the schools chosen are elementary schools, noted Haarmann.
Since phase 1 has begun, Haarmann said there has been positive feedback from teachers.
“We have principals, educational assistants, teachers who, in various circumstances, have had to prepare meals. That lets our staff focus on their work, which is obviously preparing lessons and teaching kids.”
Haarmann said the hope is for the partnership to expand across all public schools.
