November Nutrition Champion - Nutrition for Learning

You don’t think about being hungry, unless you are, then you think about nothing else.  Imagine how difficult it is for students who arrive to school hungry and try to navigate the day.

1 in every 10 students in our Region arrives to school this way. That equates to 3 kids in an average class of 30, in a school of 600…60 kids are too hungry to concentrate on math, reading and peer interaction. 60 kids = two full classes of students unable to think about anything beyond their rumbly tummies.

Enter Nutrition for Learning!

A volunteer driven, non-profit with a mission …

“To enhance the ability to learn by insuring that each student attends school well nourished.”

Everyday throughout the Region, 600 volunteers work to deliver good nutrition to over 9,000 students in over 130 community breakfast, lunch and snack programs.

That’s 9,000 kids each day who are nourished and free to concentrate on science, art, music, history and having fun with their friends instead of how hungry they are. That’s 9,000 lives that are impacted in a very positive way, the effects of which, will last a lifetime… 9,000 children who are experiencing firsthand the importance of good nutrition.

The success of the Nutrition for Learning program is dependent on volunteers, private donors and corporate sponsors, each one’s role significant, and reliant on the other.

How you can help…

Volunteer to…

·         Be a student nutrition program coordinator

·         Prepare food

·         Set up and or take down tables and chairs

·         Be a greeter, take attendance, serve

·         Be a shopper

·         Do program bookkeeping

Private Donors can support the Program…

·         Donate food items such as 100% fruit juice, whole wheat bagels and breads, Fruit cups packed in juice

·         Make a financial donation at www.nutritionforlearning.ca

·         Become a Nutrition for Learning monthly donor to ensure the stable income needed to respond to the needs of the community.

·         Make a tribute gift to recognize a special occasion or remember the passing of a loved one

·         Include a bequest to Nutrition for Learning in your will or insurance, leaving a legacy gift.

·         Joining  the Live Free campaign

·         Supporting Nutrition for Learning through the Grocery Card program

·         Host a fundraiser

Corporate involvement…

·         Fund a program for 3 years (Program naming available)

·         Financial, in-kind food donations or volunteer participation

·         Adopt a virtual student for $300 a year

·         Organize a fund raiser.

Many additional opportunities to support this valuable program exist and can be investigated by visiting the Nutrition for Learning website

The Nutrition for learning program relies on the community just as urgently as the community relies on the program. Get involved!

·         Sign up for the Nutrition for Learning Newsletter

·         Support upcoming events

·         Learn about the program in your school

·         Thank and patron Nutrition for Learning sponsors

Restore Family Nutrition gratefully acknowledges the work done each day by this incredible group of people dedicated to improving lives in our Region and for the opportunity to share the Nutrition for Learning story.

Parting facts to think about…

·         The cost to provide a healthy snack per child is .90 cents or $180 a year. *

·         The cost to provide one nutritious breakfast is $1.30 or $260 per school year. *

·         The cost to provide a nourishing lunch is $2.05 or $410 a year. *

·         40% of food bank recipients in Waterloo Region are children

*based on 2011 programs.