BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Aug. 20,
2024 /CNW/ - As the new school year approaches,
Breakfast Club of Canada calls on
Canadians to join the movement to give current and future
generations an equal opportunity to succeed. Despite ongoing
efforts, Breakfast Club of Canada,
school communities and community partners estimate that there are
still over 800,000 children who would need the Club's support in
nearly 3,000 schools. These children continue to be at risk of
going to school on an empty stomach.
With the rising cost of living and limited access to nutritious
food impacting households, Breakfast Club of Canada is committed to maintaining and
expanding its activities to lighten the load for families and
provide nutritious food to support those who need it most:
schoolchildren.
"The power of breakfast cannot be underestimated," says
Tommy Kulczyk, President and CEO of
Breakfast Club of Canada. "A
nutritious breakfast sets the tone for a child's entire day,
impacting their ability to learn, grow, and thrive. Our
back-to-school fundraising campaign is not just about breakfast;
it's about investing in the youth's future."
A better start for every child
Families across Canada face
difficult choices as food prices have increased by an average of
over 20% in the last three years. Breakfast Club of Canada is also under increased pressure, with
rising demands for new breakfast programs and higher attendance at
existing ones. Consequently, expenses are outpacing revenues,
limiting Breakfast Club of Canada's ability to onboard new programs to
meet demand.
Last spring, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $1 billion over five years for the implementation
of a National School Food Program (NSFP) to strengthen existing
school food programs, including breakfast, lunch and
snacks, with a target of reaching 400,000 children. While the
details and timelines for program implementation are yet to be
clarified, it is important to highlight the significance of this
major first step in the right direction.
Despite being good news, this investment unfortunately remains
insufficient to meet all needs across the country. "While we are
pleased to see the federal government take a great step forward and
be part of the solution with private and community stakeholders, as
well as provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, the
fight against school hunger is far from over," says Judith Barry, Co-founder and Government
Relations Director of Breakfast Club of Canada. "The National Food School Program has
yet to be implemented, and in the upcoming school year, 1 in 3
children are still at risk of going to school on an empty
stomach."
We believe in breakfast
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this fall, Breakfast Club of
Canada remains a cornerstone in
the lives of families and communities from coast to coast to coast.
As Canada's only national school
food delivery organization, it has worked tirelessly since its
foundation in 1994 to highlight the importance of a nutritious
breakfast every morning for all children. For all these years, the
organization and its partners have been proudly supporting
breakfast programs in various ways, including offering innovative
solutions designed specifically to local needs, such as adapting
menus to dietary sensitivities and Indigenous traditions. These
efforts also consider available resources to ensure the long-term
sustainability of these programs.
The Club currently helps to reach over 650,000 children in over
3,800 school nutrition programs.
Join the Movement!
Canadians are invited to join forces to nourish the potential of
tomorrow's leaders. Starting today, the public can donate by
texting CLUB to 20222, online at
breakfastclubcanada.org/back-to-school.
For this important fundraising campaign, Breakfast Club of
Canada can also count on the
generosity of the MTY Foundation, which will double donations up to
$100,000. Together, let's help
children reach their full potential.
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all
sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach
their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its
effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food
products, the Club helps reach children in every province and
territory across the country. To learn more,
visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on
Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
SOURCE Breakfast Club of Canada