Editor, The News:
Re: Feeding our kids at school (The News, Dec. 23).
It was great to see such a huge article in your paper highlighting the provision of food that goes on in our community for children in our school district.
The fact that the need for such programming is so prevalent is a sad reflection of our times, but it is a relief to know how many organizations are working to fill that need.
Kiwanis, Rotary, Youth Unlimited are just some of the community groups that work hard to feed hungry kids.
I was surprised and disappointed to see that Friends in Need Food Bank was not mentioned in the article. Perhaps your reporter was not aware that there is a School Breakfast and Snack program running out of the food bank and we service 17 elementary schools and eight secondary programs in.
The school highlighted in the article (Eric Langton) receives weekly deliveries of non-perishable and fresh dairy products, and this food is part of what they use to feed their hungry students. In fact, we are filling between 16-25 orders each week, sifting through donations and purchasing items to fill these orders. Our program feeds 300 kids across Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge everyday, in sit-down breakfasts and ‘grab-and-go’ sharing baskets.
As with the other groups mentioned in the article, Friends in Need relies on grants and donations to make the program run. Thanks for allowing us to bring awareness to our program, as you did for the other worthy programs already. We all have the common goal of feeding kids, and providing an opportunity for social connections and belonging along the way.
Jill Constable and Kim Dumore
Friends in Need Breakfast and Snack Program
