Vulnerable youth program in Vancouver expanding

A program that serves up hot lunches and fun activities to vulnerable Vancouver youth is expanding.

The KidSafe Project Society currently helps about 450 kids at five Vancouver schools when school is out during winter, spring and summer break.

Executive director Gerhard Maynard says the group is adding Thunderbird Elementary School to its program, starting this summer, to help kids from that school who face myriad challenges.

• KidSafe keeps vulnerable kids fed, active during school breaks

"There could be mental health challenges in the family, it could be poverty related," Maynard said.

"It could be a family who's got two working parents or it could be a single mom ... trying their best to provide the supports that children need, but that's challenging in one of the most expensive cities in Canada."

KidSafe will celebrate the expansion at their annual pancake breakfast at Florence Nightingale Elementary School Tuesday morning.

In a press release, KidSafe says their programs provide over 130,000 total hours of activities to children who have been referred by their teacher or principal because of their economic and emotional vulnerabilities.