(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

eating and learning

Turkey lunch served for 500 at Normandeau School

Dec 19, 2019 | 3:00 PM

Five hundred hungry souls got their fill of holiday cooking on Thursday during Normandeau School’s second annual turkey lunch.

The event, powered by the school’s nutrition program, happens thanks to a number of community partners who made food donations, as well as help from school board members, RCMP, and Lacombe’s Tanner Green of the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos.

Principal Lisa Spicer explained that the lunch brings together the entire student body, as opposed to just the one who regularly use the program.

“The community support is what makes this work.The finances just aren’t there to do it, to cook turkey, stuffing, potatoes and vegetables for all our students,” she said. “The volunteers are who really make the difference. We just served all of our students in less than an hour.”

Meantime, Green, who is enjoying his football off-season, said it’s great to give back to a community where he spent many of his formative days.

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“I remember there were days where kids were skipping breakfast, and then you’re sitting in your first block class and falling asleep,” says Green. “I didn’t know it back then, but not eating breakfast, or not having a nutritious lunch will affect your learning, how you can do physical activity and your entire day. Giving them a good meal will help them hopefully for the rest of the day, this week, and the rest of their lives.”

Spicer added that funding for the nutrition program, which was extended earlier this year, is only guaranteed until the end of 2019/20, but they’re hopeful it will once again be renewed.

“If you have any question about whether this helps students and their learning,” she said, “come and spend an hour in our school.”