Parkland County Lunch Program Expands to Serve 5,000 Kids

A significant funding boost is set to transform the Our Community Pantry project in Parkland County, located just west of Edmonton. Thanks to a federal grant of $400,000, the program aims to increase the number of school lunches provided each week from 900 to an impressive 5,000 over the next two years. This initiative, run by the Rotary Club of Spruce Grove, addresses the urgent needs of students facing food insecurity.

Program manager Dianne Brown emphasized the necessity for expansion, stating, “We need to grow and we need to become at least five times as big as we are to meet demand.” Currently, the program serves 21 schools within the Parkland School Division, but Brown has aspirations to broaden its reach to additional school districts.

Grassroots Beginnings and Community Impact

The Our Community Pantry began as a grassroots response to food insecurity. The initiative was ignited when Brown and fellow Rotarian Patty Zeglen witnessed children rummaging through a trash can in September 2021. “What are we going to do?” Brown recalls asking Zeglen. “And she says, ‘We’re gonna start feeding kids.’” This moment sparked the formalization of their efforts into a Rotary Club program.

Over the past four years, nearly 100 volunteers have rallied around the cause, delivering meals to local schools. As a result, the community pantry now has a significant presence, with close to 100 students daily accessing the stocked fridge at Spruce Grove Composite High School. Administrative assistant Julie Wiebe noted the positive impact on students, stating that the program has helped eliminate the stigma around needing assistance.

Future Plans and Culinary Development

With the grant awarded in July 2023, the Rotary Club plans to purchase professional kitchen equipment and a delivery van. This new equipment will enable the program to diversify its meal offerings beyond traditional “brown bag” lunches to include healthier options such as salads, pasta, and rice dishes. Brown expressed enthusiasm for this evolution, indicating that the team will actively seek feedback from students to ensure their needs are being met.

Additionally, the new production kitchen will serve as a venue for teaching culinary skills to students, further integrating the program into the educational fabric of the community. In April 2024, the pantry will transition into a dedicated space in Stony Plain, signifying a new chapter in its mission to tackle food insecurity among children.

This initiative reflects a growing commitment to addressing hunger in schools, and the Rotary Club of Spruce Grove remains dedicated to expanding its impact. The community pantry’s journey illustrates how grassroots efforts can evolve into significant programs that make a real difference in the lives of students facing food challenges.