Regina Public Schools Enhances Food Programs Across 19 Schools

A new collaboration between Regina Public Schools and the Regina Food Bank is set to significantly enhance food programs in 19 public elementary schools across Regina. This initiative aims to address the critical issue of student hunger, which Mark Haarmann, the director of education for Regina Public Schools, highlighted during the announcement on Wednesday. “One of the biggest hurdles to learning is hunger. Students who are hungry aren’t able to focus, aren’t able to learn. This fills that need,” he stated.

As part of this partnership, new food programming will start in several schools, including Arcola, Connaught, Dr. George Ferguson, Glen Elm, Kitchener, Seven Stones, and Thomson, beginning in January 2024. An additional five schools will join the initiative in February, with seven more expected to be added in March, although the specific schools are yet to be confirmed.

The funding for these expanded programs comes from the federal government’s National School Food Program and the Government of Saskatchewan. Last year, a deal worth $15.8 million was signed to support school lunch programs over the next three years. Haarmann expressed optimism about maximizing these funds by involving the Regina Food Bank to deliver breakfast, lunch, and snack programs, working alongside division nutritionists, Regina Food for Learning, REACH, and other non-profit partners.

This new collaboration is designed to build upon existing food programs that were previously operated at the discretion of individual schools. Typically, these programs only provided meals a few times a week or for specific meals. The partnership aims to “fill the gaps,” according to Haarmann, ensuring that students have consistent access to nutritious food.

Statistics from the Regina Food Bank reveal that approximately 35 percent of children in Saskatchewan live in food-insecure households, surpassing the national average of 32.9 percent. Internal surveys conducted by Regina Public Schools indicate that in certain neighborhoods, the rate of food insecurity among families can be twice as high. “Hunger is hard to see, but we know it’s there,” Haarmann noted. “We want to make this available as broadly and deeply as possible, and the Regina Food Bank partnership really lets us do that.”

With these initiatives, Regina Public Schools aims not only to alleviate hunger but also to enhance the overall educational experience for its students. The collaboration with the Regina Food Bank reflects a commitment to ensuring all children have access to the nourishment they need to thrive academically.