Student Nutrition Ontario

Student Nutrition Ontario

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The Ontario Produce Marketing Association partners with SNO: Providing fresh fruits and vegetables to students across Ontario

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Toronto, ON – October 13, 2020 – The Ontario Produce Marketing Association (OPMA) has partnered with Student Nutrition Ontario (SNO) for a second year to help bring fresh fruits and vegetables to students province wide.

“The OPMA is proud to support an organization that is committed to providing children with nutritious food,” said Michelle Broom, OPMA President. “COVID-19 has highlighted the issue of food insecurity across our province. This partnership ensures that students have what they need to succeed.”

Several studies indicate that a child’s access to healthy food can directly affect their ability to focus and learn. The partnership between SNO and OPMA provides students with nutritious meals and snacks that they might not otherwise have access to. Last year the grant serviced 95 schools and nearly 17,000 students across the province. Over 800 Kg of fresh fruit and vegetables were delivered through snack and meal programs. Thanks to the combined efforts of the organizations, students in the northern parts of Ontario who do not regularly have access to fresh peppers and nectarines were able to have this experience.

“The generous donation from the Ontario Produce Marketing Association has come at such a crucial time. We know that many families are struggling financially because of COVID-19 and, with students back in school, Nutrition Programs are more important than ever.” Says Catherine Parsonage, Student Nutrition Ontario Chair.

While things might look a little different this year, SNO is working hard so that children still have access to nutritious food. Students are served individually pre-packaged meals to ensure their safety as well as that of the many volunteers that help to make the program a success. Together, the organizations hope to foster an environment where children understand the importance of a well-balanced diet and are encouraged to try new things.

About Student Nutrition Ontario: At Student Nutrition Ontario, we stand for community, collaboration, and student success. We empower communities to address local needs and ensure that every student has access to nutritious foods, learns to make healthy choices, and is able to succeed.

About Ontario Produce Marketing Association: The Ontario Produce Marketing Association is a member funded, not for profit organization whose mission is to connect people and information from field to plate.

For more information contact:

Emilia De Sousa
Marketing and Communications Manager | Ontario Produce Marketing Association
emilia@theopma.ca

Cristina Caruso
Communications & Development Specialist| Toronto Foundation for Student Success cristina.caruso@tfss.ca

Egg Farmers of Ontario Commit $75,000 to help Nourish Children in Student Nutrition Programs.

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BRECHIN, Friday, October 9, 2020 – In celebration of World Egg Day, the Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) will be visiting Brechin Public School in Simcoe County on Friday October 9th at 10:00 a.m, to present a cheque for $75,000 to Student Nutrition Ontario (SNO). The funds are part of EFO’s $225,000 three-year commitment to Student Nutrition Programs across the Province. Thanks to the commitment of EFO, hungry students across Ontario will have access to eggs-citing meals.

“Ontario’s egg farmers are committed through this partnership to helping students by providing schools funding to purchase eggs or better equipment needed to serve fresh, high-quality Ontario eggs in schools across the province,” said Scott Helps, Egg Farmers of Ontario Chair.

Before schools closed mid-March 2020, around one-million children in Ontario, age 3 to 18, relied on Student Nutrition Programs to get through the school day. During COVID-19 the need has only grown. The support provided by the Egg Farmers of Ontario is needed now, more than ever.

“Many families are struggling financially because of COVID-19 and, with students back in school, nutrition programs play an important role in ensuring children have access to nutritious food each day,” says Catherine Parsonage, Student Nutrition Ontario Chair. “Egg Farmers of Ontario’s generous donation is helping children who need it most.”

About Egg Farmers of Ontario: Egg Farmers of Ontario is a non-profit organization that represents the over 500 egg and pullet farm families across Ontario. It is an independent, self-governing organization funded entirely by egg and pullet farmers.

About Student Nutrition Ontario: Student Nutrition Ontario exists to nourish students across the province. We are a network of 14 not-for-profits that support over 1,000,000 students aged 3-18, who receive healthy meals at school. We support their success by offering nutritious foods; teaching healthy eating habits and building supportive communities. We believe that every child deserves equal opportunity and must begin their day nourished – a foundation for success. With the support of 39 community partners, and over 56,000 dedicated volunteers, we are addressing student hunger in Ontario.

For additional information contact:

Donna Lange Director of Public Affairs | Egg Farmers of Ontario 905-858-9790 | dlange@getcracking.ca

Nicola Lyle Director of Administrative Services | Peterborough Child & Family Centres 705-748-9144 | nicola.lyle@ptbocfc.ca

OMHA, EGG FARMERS OF ONTARIO DONATING $10,000 TO FEED STUDENTS – KIDS HELPING KIDS

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The Ontario Minor Hockey Association and Egg Farmers of Ontario are together donating $10,000 to Student Nutrition Ontario, a province-wide program that enables students to eat, learn, and succeed.

Student Nutrition Ontario teaches students the importance of healthy eating habits and offer nutritious foods through a variety of programming. The organization works with local communities to provide meals and snacks at the most important parts of the day to ensure that students can focus on performing at their best in the classroom.

Like the OMHA, volunteers play an essential role in the success of the Student Nutrition Program. In previous years, high school students and minor hockey players have earned their community service volunteer hours while helping out their fellow classmates.

Egg Farmers of Ontario are the proud sponsor of OMHA Playdowns which see over 30,000 minor hockey players competing across the province for an OMHA Championship. Because of the sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Finals of Playdowns were cancelled just as teams began competing for the coveted Red Hats. With the support of Egg Farmers of Ontario, the OMHA awarded the title of Co-Champion to the 110 teams who had made the Finals.

“Organizations like Student Nutrition Ontario help to build communities from within and we are thrilled to know that our players give back in this way,” said Ian Taylor, Executive Director of the OMHA. “Just like in hockey, students need proper nutrition to maximize their output and we know this donation will help kids across the province.”
Proceeds from the OMHA are coming from the annual Championship Apparel program. The program celebrates all champions through the purchase of clothing and accessories that feature the OMHA Champions logo. With the naming of Co-Champions, this unique circumstance allowed the opportunity for this donation to be made possible.

“Egg farmers have always understood the value of supporting their communities, especially when it comes to kids. From the breakfast table, to the classroom and the hockey rink, kids today lead active lives and need nutritious food to keep them going,” said EFO Chair Scott Helps. “We are proud to support Student Nutrition Ontario and the many ways they help Ontario students on their journey to excellence.”

“The generous donation from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and the Egg Farmers of Ontario was a wonderful surprise and it couldn’t have come at a better time. We know that many families are struggling financially because of COVID-19 and, as students head back to school in September, Nutrition Programs are more important than ever. Their commitment to nourishing our children and youth is truly wonderful,” said Student Nutrition Ontario Chair Catherine Parsonage.

Government of Canada Announces the First-Ever Food Policy for Canada

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Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the creation of a national food policy last week, including the first steps towards the creation of a National School Food Program.

Access to nutritious food is one of the largest barriers to education facing Canadian students. A National School Food Program will support the critical work of Student Nutrition Programs across the country. By providing healthy and nutritious meals and snacks to students, Student Nutrition programs allow students to focus and succeed in the classroom. 

 

Read the full announcement here.