Rising food costs, increased demand put strain on school food programs in London, Ont.

The number of students going to school with lighter lunch boxes is on the rise in London, Ont., this year.

About 25,000 students are signed up to get an extra meal at school this year through the Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP), up by 900 more students than last year. There are 89 schools in the region participating in the program, up from 85 last year.

Organizers of the program say the increase in need points to financial challenges for local families and for the people organizing in-school meals with limited budgets and volunteer staff. Danielle Findlay is the supervisor of community relations for OSNP, and says the increased need can be directly tied to rising food costs.

"I think that we've all seen it reflected in our own family budgets," said Findlay. "Our schools that had previously been tasked with providing food for students and ensuring that they're well fed and ready to learn are feeling the increased pinch as well, due to this post-COVID price increase."

Findlay pegs the cost of a healthy snack at around $2.50 per student, with government funding covering only 30 per cent of the cost. Schools and organizers are forced to come up with the additional 70 per cent of the funding, often relying on faith-based and community groups.

More volunteers needed for food programs

The school closures and various restrictions of the last two years have affected volunteers coming into schools as well. Many area schools took frequent advantage of online learning, and also enacted restrictions on non-staff and non-student visitors. 

Another issue with the rising costs comes from how the food is prepared.

"If you have to wrap an apple in Saran wrap and you're doing that times 25,000 students across the region it becomes quite costly," said Findlay. "With bringing volunteers back in the building and some of those public health requirements being eased, we're hoping that that will reduce some of the challenges. But we're still seeing those rising food costs."

One local nutrition program continues to feed students before the morning bell. Spearheaded by White Oaks Public School support counsellor Tom Luttermann, the breakfast club has been providing a balanced breakfast for 16 years..

Luttermann says the program came from a very real need to get students fed.

"I work with a number of marginalized families and people who may struggle to make ends meet. I was aware previously from other positions I had held that food insecurity was a big issue in our community, and it's sometimes a hidden issue," he said. "With that knowledge, it made sense to me to put my energy into doing something like a breakfast club."

A typical breakfast served by the program includes toasted bagels and cream cheese, cereal, milk, and fresh fruit. Volunteers arrive at the school at 8 a.m. and serve food at 8:30 a.m., so students can eat before the 9 a.m. bell. 

Grade 8 student volunteers have played a pivotal role in keeping the breakfast club running, gaining valuable experience before they're even old enough to work.

"We've had kids who have been such good workers, so dependable, so on time, so respectful. In return, I say to them, 'You know, in a couple of years, if you're applying for a job and somebody asks you for a reference, you can use me as your reference. And chances are you'll get the job because I'll be able to say what great workers you were in The Breakfast Club.'," he said.

A call for federal funding for food programs

School nutrition programs across the board in our region are open to all students, regardless of socioeconomic status.

There's also a call for federal funding for school nutrition programs in Canada. Findlay says she was hoping to see funding come in the last federal budget this past April. Since the funding never came, but the Liberal Government's commitment to developing a national school food policy was reaffirmed, Findlay hopes for good news in April 2023.

Canada is the only G7 nation that does not have a federally funded student nutrition program.