Regina Public Schools Expands Food Programs to 19 Elementary Schools
A significant new partnership between Regina Public Schools and the Regina Food Bank is set to expand in-school food programs across 19 public elementary schools in the city. This initiative aims to address student hunger and enhance the educational experience by providing consistent access to nutritious meals.
Addressing the Barrier of Hunger in Learning
Mark Haarmann, director of education for Regina Public Schools, emphasized the critical impact of hunger on student performance. "One of the biggest hurdles to learning is hunger. Students who are hungry aren't able to focus, aren't able to learn. This fills that need," Haarmann stated during the partnership announcement. He added, "We think this will make a real difference in the student experience with our division."
The program has already launched in several schools, including Arcola, Connaught, Dr. George Ferguson, Glen Elm, Kitchener, Seven Stones, and Thomson schools as of January. Five additional schools will join at the beginning of February, with another seven scheduled for March, though specific schools have not yet been finalized.
Funding and Collaborative Delivery
Funding for these expanded food programs comes from a combination of federal and provincial sources. The federal government's National School Food Program and the Government of Saskatchewan have contributed through a $15.8-million agreement signed last year to support school lunch initiatives over the next three years.
Haarmann explained that these funds will be maximized by engaging the Regina Food Bank to help deliver breakfast, lunch, and snack programs. This effort will be supported by division nutritionists, Regina Food for Learning, REACH, and other non-profit partners. "The hope is that over the course of the coming months, with some more donations, we can expand the program even further," Haarmann noted.
Filling Gaps in Existing Programs
While some food programming was already available at the discretion of individual schools, it was often limited to a few times a week or specific meals. This new partnership is designed to "fill the gaps" and provide more consistent support, according to Haarmann.
Addressing Food Insecurity in Saskatchewan
The Regina Food Bank reports that 35 per cent of children in Saskatchewan live in food-insecure households, which is above the national average of 32.9 per cent. Internal surveys conducted by Regina Public Schools suggest that in some Regina neighbourhoods, the number of families affected by food insecurity is twice as high.
"Hunger is hard to see, but we know it's there," Haarmann said. "We want to make this available as broadly and deeply as possible, and the Regina Food Bank partnership really lets us do that."
This expansion represents a proactive step toward mitigating food insecurity among students, with the goal of improving focus, learning outcomes, and overall well-being in the school environment.
