July 10, 2025
.webp)
During the 2024/25 school year Halton Food for Thought was able to launch two new Student Nutrition Programs in Burlington, thanks in part to funding received from two grants from the Burlington Community Foundation and Halton Region’s Community Investment Fund. Through these funds, we were able to partner with two new schools, Alexander’s Public School and L’École élémentaire Renaissance.
Together these schools bring our total to 50 schools in Burlington, which provide over 26,000 students with access to nutritious food at school daily during the school year. We are currently reaching 95% of the students in Burlington thanks to the expansion of our programs helping us get closer to our vision of no student going hungry at school.
Our new schools are so grateful for the support they received to help them start these programs for their students. Not only does it provide healthy food options for the students to support their learning, but both schools have also taken the opportunity to incorporate volunteer opportunities for students to get involved in the delivery of their programs.
When we asked Principal Wassila Yalla at L’École élémentaire Renaissance about the impact of the program at her school for students, she let us know, “This makes a tremendous difference in their day. The students can be hungry for many different reasons and having healthy snacks removes one major barrier and helps set students up for a successful day.”
Rachel Keller-Krueger, a Teacher at Alexander’s PS, expressed her gratitude towards the program, “We are extremely grateful for funding support in launching our snack program. Thank you for all the assistance and the opportunities it has created for our students.”
Some of the students at Alexander’s PS were also able to lend their insight to the impact of the program, with one stating “I think the Halton Food for Thought food cart has had a large impact on our school’s community, it encourages kids to eat healthy while offering appealing food at lunch. Overall, the food cart has improved our school's well-being by promoting healthy eating and giving kids an opportunity to eat.”
Another volunteer let us know, “The Halton Food for Thought snack carts have made a meaningful impact on our school community by ensuring that all students have access to nutritious food throughout break time. This program supports student well-being, helps improve focus and energy in class, and makes sure that everyone is in an environment where they are able to work!”
Being able to support the health and well-being of Halton students is one of the major benefits of Student Nutrition Programs and demonstrates their importance within a school community. Halton Food for Thought is grateful for the support we received this year from funding partners like the Burlington Community Foundation and Halton Region Community Investment Fund to help us continue to expand our work in Burlington.
