Food & Friends Student Nutrition Program evolves to meet the needs of school-aged kids during COVID 19 precautions

Like many in Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph, the Children’s Foundation is working towards continuing our support of the most vulnerable in our community despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the school year has begun, we are especially concerned about the children and youth who rely on our Food & Friends student nutrition programs.

With the closing of schools in March, the Children's Foundation, in partnership with local organizations, responded with a temporary emergency support initiative called Fresh Food for Kids that provided almost 100,000 nutritious meals to local children and youth in need in Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph.

This initiative will transition to Food & Friends at Home to start the new school year. Families with children and youth supported by the Children’s Foundation through the Food & Friends Program will be eligible to submit a request for a Food & Friends at Home kit. This kit will provide one snack for each day of a two week period similar to what would be provided through a Food & Friends student nutrition program.

How It Works
• Parent(s) or Guardian(s) with children and youth supported by the Children’s Foundation through our Food & Friends Program are eligible to submit a request for a Food & Friends at Home kit. A list of programs supported by Food & Friends can be found here.
• Families in need of food support can request a Food & Friends at Home kit using this online form
• Only one request is required per family.
• To receive delivery, applicants must give consent to share the information on the application form with staff and volunteers who will be packing and delivering the kits.
• Deliveries will be made every two weeks starting the last week of September.
• Applicants will receive email notification of delivery details for the kits.

The Food & Friends at Home kits will follow nutritional guidelines. Deliveries will be made to the doorsteps of families in Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph.

For the safety of families and the community, volunteers delivering the kits will not enter homes. Our goal is to provide up to 3,000 Food & Friends at Home kits every two weeks for school-aged children and youth so that we can continue bringing healthy food to hungry minds.

For answers to frequently asked questions check out the Q&A

As a principal, coordinator, committee member, partner and/or supporter of the Food & Friends Program, we are counting on you to spread the word to and/or register families most in need. Consider sending a message to your personal or professional network and/or add the communication to your website or newsletter to let them know about our new food support initiative.

As a previously funded Food & Friends student nutrition program your school/agency is eligible for funding on top of the Food & Friends at Home initiative.

Programs should be offering a grab and go model of only a few simple items that fulfill the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services nutrition guidelines.

Many have Help Kids Live Free from Hunger and President’s Choice Children’s Charity funding coming which should be used. In order to request additional funding from Food & Friends, a Budget needs to be completed by October 4th. Use the Budget Checklist to complete. Once funding is received regular monthly reporting will be required.

As with any new initiative, there may be challenges along the way, so we thank you in advance for your patience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Anita, Bobbi, Heather or Emma.

Please note: The health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and the community is our top priority. We are following recommended safety protocols and taking extra precautions when packaging and delivering Food & Friends at Home kits.

Best,

Anita
Food & Friends Program Director

Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign

Buy your Smile Cookies from September
14-20. Your full dollar will help to support
our programs in Elora, Fergus, Guelph,
Arthur, Mt. Forest, Harriston and
Shellburne.

Local Restaurant Owners are proud to be supporting our organization. Last year, they had a record-breaking amount of cookies sold in Canada with 100% of proceeds going straight back to recipients. Over $10M was raised. A large part of that is thanks to the support charity partners put into the program. The more engaged we and our volunteers are in the program (pre Smile Cookie and Smile Cookie week) the more cookies the restaurants sell and the bigger the donation!

Tim Hortons provided their unwavering support throughout last year’s Smile Cookie campaign, helping raise funds to provide almost 73,100 meals through our programs. We’re excited to once again to be recipients of this campaign which has provided over $775,700 for our Food & Friends programs!

Treat your team or family to Smile Cookies. A pre-order form can be found here

We would love for volunteers to help decorate Smile Cookies and/or upsell cookies- in the restaurant and drive thru wearing Children's Foundation's logo or colors. Explaining where the Smile Cookie money goes to shows that:
i. People are 9x more likely to purchase a cookie if they know exactly where the money goes to.
ii. People are more likely to participate if they can put a face to the cause.
Contact Anita, Bobbi or Heather to find out where you can help!

Please help to promote the project by
using #smilecookie or @TimHortons on
social media.

Remember, for every 5 cookies purchased, we can feed a child a healthy snack for a whole week!

Thanks To Our Supporters

We feel so fortunate that so many individuals and organizations have helped us bring healthy food to those most vulnerable during this global crisis.

A special thanks to our government, foundations and other charities for their support:

Breakfast Club of Canada
Emergency Community Support Fund though the Community Foundations in our regions:
* Guelph Community Foundation
* Centre Wellington Community Foundation
* Dufferin Community Foundation
Cargill
Humenuik Foundation
Donaldson Foundation
T Beattie Holdings
United Way of Guelph Wellington Dufferin
Zonta Club of Guelph

To find out how you can donate to Food & Friends at Home, visit the Children's Foundation website.

Thanks To Our Volunteers

We need your help!

"I would like to thank the drivers and volunteers and all the places that donate to make this possible at all. It's good to know there are still good caring people looking out for others in these crazy times. So from the bottom of our hearts
thank you so much. All of you are amazing."

To find out how to volunteer with Food & Friends at Home, visit the Children's Foundation website.

Send feedback, stories, pictures or drawings to us either by:
▪ emailing foodandfriends@childrensfoundation.org
▪ mailing to 87 Waterloo Avenue, Guelph ON N1H 3H6
▪ calling Anita at 519-826-9551 ext. 22 to speak over the phone.

Dates to Remember

September 4 - Food & Friends at Home registration opens

September 14 - 20 - Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign

October 4 - Budget due. Checklist

October 7 - Monthly report due. Checklist

Remember:
October 31 - Grocery Foundation vouchers expire (extended from July 31)

You are receiving this email as a principal, coordinator, committee member or supporter of the Food & Friends Program. If you are interested in keeping up to date on all the activities and events of the Children's Foundation click here to subscribe to the monthly newsletter, the Beacon.

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THANKS TO OUR CORE SUPPORTERS: