Are more students needing meal programs compared to a few years ago?
Posted September 14, 2015 6:53 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – While back-to-school means homework and friends, for many kids it also means getting at least one solid meal a day.
Demand is rising at one organization that raises money for student food programs in Burnaby.
Lawrence Ryan with Burnaby Empty Bowls says the group has already run out of money to give out. Many of the requests were for breakfast and lunch programs.
He believes the number of students using food programs is higher than a few years ago.
“Not only are breakfast programs on the rise, but you see many schools starting even food pantries and food banks on their own just to help their families and their community,” says Ryan.
“Burnaby Empty Bowls program ran a food event last spring and we gave out funds during the summer, and we already ran out of funds in terms of requests by different organizations around Burnaby,” he explains.
The group had raised about $25,000 at its spring event.
Ryan adds demand is always going up because groups like Empty Bowls are continually struggling to meet it for an entire year.
