A new school program that aims to feed Greater Victoria students is calling for community support as food insecurity continues to rise and existing resources no longer meet the need.
Established after a pilot in Sooke School District 62, Flourish! School Food Society serves 850 home-cooked meals per day across 20 schools across the South Island.
According to the 2023 McCreary Centre Society’s Adolescent Health Survey, almost 30 per cent of B.C. students in Grades 7 to 12 skip breakfast, and according to a news release, Flourish noted 11 per cent of Sooke students in the same grades sometimes go to sleep hungry due to lack of money for food at home.
“How can you be expected to learn if your basic needs for nourishment aren’t met? We know that providing food creates opportunities for connection and care. Bringing food into our schools in a compassionate way can be a powerful way to support the mental, emotional and physical health of our youth,” said Matthew Kemshaw, executive director of Flourish.
Flourish, which is based at the Food Security Security Distribution Centre in Esquimalt, collaborates with a network of local farms and food rescue programs and meals are served buffet-style by school staff. The program is supported by the Ministry of Education’s Feeding Futures program, which aims to build school food programs across the province.
“It’s not just economically disadvantaged families that benefit from school food programs. We know there is a need across the socio-economic spectrum, and providing food for all is the best way to create a truly nourishing school food environment,” noted Kemshaw.
In an effort to foster inclusivity, the society is exploring various pay-scale models with the goal of providing universal access to nutritious meals.
To learn more about Flourish or to donate, visit www.flourishschoolfood.ca.
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