By rdnewsNOW staff

Aspen Heights Elementary School

Hope Mission Red Deer fighting food insecurity among kids with new lunch program

Jul 18, 2024 | 3:07 PM

To help combat food insecurity this summer, Hope Mission Red Deer has kicked off a new summer lunch program for students.

Officials say Hope Mission serves 70 per cent of Red Deer schools with food support for children, helping to combat the ever-growing challenge of food insecurity. However, during the summer, accessing food becomes a lot more challenging for students, when schools are closed and these supports are no longer available.

As a result, Hope Mission is providing free bagged lunches to students and their families on a first come-first serve basis, Monday-Friday from 12pm-1pm at the Aspen Heights Elementary playground.

Scott Barclay, Program Manager, Hope Mission Red Deer, said, “One young student and their siblings recently told us that they would be attending the program every day because they needed the free lunches this summer.” Barclay continues, “Stories like this motivate us to find new ways to serve food with as few barriers as possible.”

According to Hope Mission, Statistics Canada released a study showing that 30 per cent of Alberta children and youth are living in food insecure households, but Hope Mission’s desire is that no child goes hungry this summer.

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Officials say this program is only possible because of generous donations from members of the community. Just $2.70 can provide a healthy meal and supportive care to a hungry student this summer.

To help fight food insecurity among local children in central Alberta, visit www.hopemission.com/donate/kids.

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