Prince George School Launches Food Program for Struggling Families

Students at Prince George Secondary School in British Columbia will soon receive food kits designed to support families struggling with food insecurity. Principal Randy Halpape and Maria Turay from the Prince George school district have initiated this program, recognizing the growing challenges families face in meeting their nutritional needs.

Halpape noted that rising living costs are impacting local families significantly. “Some families are finding it harder and harder as the cost of living goes up,” he stated. The principal emphasized that less disposable income often leads to reduced food availability at home, resulting in a very real risk of hunger for some households.

To address this issue, Halpape and Turay have developed a food kit program that aims to provide meals for students and their families during times when they may not have enough food. “We understand that some students often leave school for the day wondering when their next meal will be,” Turay explained.

The program will focus on filling the gap that exists when students leave school, as Halpape pointed out that while they provide access to breakfast and lunch, many students lack adequate food during evenings and weekends. The food kits will include ingredients for simple, nutritious meals that students and caregivers can easily prepare at home.

“We hope to give students the skills they can carry forward for when they start their own families,” Turay added. She emphasized that the program is not simply about providing recipes. Instead, it will include budget-friendly meal instructions that encourage families to cook cost-effective meals they can replicate in the future.

To fund this initiative, the school is seeking $25,000 from The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund, which manages the Adopt-A-School campaign. This funding will cover the cost of food kits, in-school snacks, and some basic necessities and clothing for students in need. The goal is to distribute approximately 125 meal kits each month to families requiring assistance.

Many families in need live in rural areas, making it difficult to access supermarkets in the city. This logistical challenge means that supplying grocery cards is not a feasible option. Instead, food supplies will be delivered to the school for distribution. Halpape noted that food prices in the region are considerably higher than in urban areas, compounding the difficulties faced by local families.

“Some of the higher-paying jobs in the forestry sector and other traditional industries have been lost as we transition to new opportunities in the province,” Halpape remarked. “So, the need is there for families. And our goal is to support them.”

Since its inception in 2011, The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund has distributed over $15.1 million in aid to numerous schools, alleviating the effects of child poverty. This funding has provided essential meals for children arriving at school hungry, as well as other necessities such as clothing.

This fall, the Adopt-A-School initiative has received 164 requests totaling $1.5 million from various schools. Importantly, no administrative costs are deducted from donations; all funds will directly support schools.

For those wishing to contribute to the program, donations can be made online at www.vansunkidsfund.ca or via phone at 604-813-8673. With community support, the program aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families facing food insecurity in the region.