Feeding Futures fund benefits local students

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The province’s Feeding Futures fund will benefit all students in School District 60 by providing approximately $800,000 for food, staffing and equipment needs.

The school district will receive the amount annually for the next three years from B.C.’s Ministry of Education and Childcare to expand its food program.

According to SD 60 Superintendent Stephen Petrucci, the funding will benefit all of the schools in Peace River North “because we know that fed kids learn better.”

Petrucci says the program, an evolution of the affordability fund introduced in 2022, is designed to be stigma-free so anyone who needs food will be fed anonymously.

Nancy Burchell, the district’s food program coordinator, says she organized a workshop for all the canteen coordinators in the district on Friday.

“We’ve all got together, we have a whole day together, we did a tour of three amazing canteens that we have in town here, and we had a great turnout,” Burchell said.

In the afternoon session, Burchell says they met with dieticians in the district to go over some nutritional information.

“We’re going to have a roundtable discussion and just share stories and successes and challenges that our district is having,” Burchell said.

Petrucci says they’ve seen the need for food programs over the years.

“With this Feeding Futures funding, it’s allowed us to expand,” Petrucci said.

Burchell echoes Petrucci’s sentiment and says the cost of living has increased in all sectors.

“I think it is absolutely necessary to support our parents and our students in our district,” Burchell said.

“It’s exciting to be able to provide these food programs for those kids that are struggling, or they need that support.”

More information on the Feeding Futures funding can be found on the Government of B.C.’s website.