Nutrition program organizers concerned students may be hungry over summer

With the end of the school year comes the end to breakfast programs across the city, andorganizersare concerned thatsome students won't be getting the nutritious food they need over the summer.

DonJaffrayis the executive director of the social planning and research council in Hamilton, the group that oversees theTastebudsstudent nutritionprogram. This past year,Tastebudsdesigned and supported 172 student nutrition programs at schools and community centresthroughout the City of Hamilton.

They're distracted by their hunger.- DonJaffray, Executive Director of Social Planning and Research Council, Hamilton

"We know for sure that some students would be hungry without this support,"hesaid in a phone call on Wednesday.

"There's all kinds of information coming back from schools that say, 'Look, the kids are not able to be effective learners, because they're too hungry,'"hesaid, emphasizing the need for these programs. "They're distracted by their hunger."

Concerns for the summer

The goal of these nutrition programs is to put an end to students' hunger, Jaffraysaid. Throughout the year, they're mostly effective, he said, but when the school year ends, so do the programs.

"There's certainly a gap in the support for access to nutritious food that is being provided to kids over the summer."

Althoughconcerns are being voiced to the province and to local community partners, Jaffray said no plan has been developed tohelp bridge thegap.

There's certainly a gap in the support for access to nutritious food that is being provided to kids over the summer.- Don Jaffray, Executive Director of Social Planning and Research Council, Hamilton

Tastebuds is funded by the provincial government.During the school year, programs are monitored closely by organizers, collecting stats and filingreports week afterweek. As long asthe demand for a program is there, provincial funding will continue to flow.

Jaffraysaid over the past yearthe province of Ontario provided $812,585 in funding to Tastebuds. This covers about half the cost to run the programs, he said. The schools and community centres also fundraise throughout the year to help cover their own costs. This year, 1,269 people volunteered their time to helpkeep food on the tables for studentsacross the city.

By the numbers

Here arestats provided byTastebudsfor the 2014-2015 school year:

• 463,383 breakfasts were served
• 2,565,329 morning meals were served
• 73,093 lunches were served
• 925,290 healthy snacks were served
• 30,082 students per day were fed

These programs are provided tostudents of all ages,Jaffraysaid, from those inkindergarten to those inhigh school. They're also intended to feed students who bring a full lunchbox to school as well asstudents comingfrom families that can't even afford a lunch box,let alone food to put in it.

Andit's not just about puttingfood in their bellies, Jaffraysaid. These programs are alsodesigned to teach students about good eating habits and what nutritious food looks like.

Hoping students get what they need

Jordan Bailey is acoordinator at the Eva RothwellResource Centre at Robert Land. The centre runs a breakfast program and an afterschool food program Monday to Fridayduring the school year.

On an average day, the program will see 15 to 20 students coming in for food, he said. Those same students will also be the ones coming by after school to grab some more food before heading home.

"A lot of kids, even with the breakfast program, theyeat that one meal and they're still going to school without anything to eat for the day," he said. "If it weren't for [the breakfast program]there's a chance they probably wouldn't have anything to eat for the day."

Now that the program is done for the summer, Bailey said he has to trustthat students' guardians will take over andprovide healthy food for them over the next few months.

A lot of kids, even with the breakfast program, theyeat that one meal and they're still going to school without anything to eat for the day,- Jordan Bailey,coordinator at the EvaRothwellResource Centre at Robert Land

"We kind of just have to wish for the best," he said, adding he and his colleagues have to stay hopeful because there's not much else they can do until the new school year starts up again in September.

Next year,Bailey saidthe centre would like to have the breakfastprogram run throughout the summer so those who rely on it won't go without.

Chris Seto| @topherseto