Hunger in Sudbury, On, like in many of our communities, is closer to home than most people realize.
“I don’t think people can truly understand it without seeing it first-hand” explains Sheila Nosich, Administrative Assistant at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School. “Sometimes you take for granted that everyone is eating three meals a day or has a warm bed but that’s not reality for some.”
Sheila describes her community as, “small and tight-knit, where everyone helps each other out.” So, when an influx of new Canadians arrived in the area, the Holy Cross school community quickly identified a need for a universal school meal program – that’s where President’s Choice Children’s Charity came in.
Power Full Kids, the charity’s new signature program, reaches children in communities across Canada, providing them with regular meals and snacks and education that teaches them to grow and cook. By participating in the program, Holy Cross can provide more well-rounded meals, for more children. For Sheila, the benefit is obvious, “It totally changes their behavior and improves focus.” Sheila explains “I’ve had students in the past that could be a little disruptive in class. I discovered they weren’t getting enough to eat at home to have a proper breakfast. Once I offer a snack and they gobble it up, you can see an immediate positive change and they are ready to start the day.”
