Food banks, summer camps, and city-run programs try to fill the void but the pandemic and inflation are straining resources.
Simone Gordon has eight children and heavily relies on the food support programs offered at her kids’ schools to provide nutritious meals during the day. But from June to September when school is out, it’s a struggle.
“Schools not only provide educational needs but are hubs for reaching the vulnerable populations through different programs,” said Katerina Maximova, a scientist at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital — a research centre tackling health and equity issues in communities across Canada. “When school programs are closed during the summer months, we realize that school is a significant mechanism to address the issue of food insecurity.
“People who are food insecure are generally income insecure and have limited or no margins to their income when the cost of living goes up,” said Newton. “Their ability to access nutritious food regularly is affected.” At Nibi Emosaawdang Public School, principal David Yaciuk and vice-principal Amanda Carrol help run the food support program. The school partners with two community organizations and a local church to keep the program running during the summer months. The school delivers food packages to approximately 36 families.
Nibi Emosaawdang Public School is an exception as many schools that are overburdened and underfunded are unable to form community partnerships, says Maximova. Oftentimes, the burden falls on summer camps and city-run programs to jump in to help. But even summer programs are feeling the pinch as rising costs and the impact of the pandemic are straining organizations’ resources.
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