MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 10,
2023 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods Inc
(TSX: MFI) and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security
is contributing $250,000 to the
Healthy Students Brighter Ontario campaign to support the expansion
of the Student Nutrition Program and the First Nations Student
Nutrition Program in Ontario.
In addition to private sector donations raised through the
campaign, the province is contributing $5
million in additional funding, bringing total provincial
funding in 2023 to $38 million. This
will enable the program to deliver almost 90 million nutritious
meals and snacks to over 600,000 students.
Food insecurity in Canada has
reached crisis levels, with one in four children now living
in a home that struggles to access food," said Sarah Stern, Executive Director of the Maple
Leaf Centre for Food Security. "While school food programs will not
solve this growing issue, they do provide immediate support without
stigma for students who go to school without adequate nutrition. We
commend the province of Ontario
for this further investment to help all children learn and
thrive."
The Student Nutrition Program is delivered in partnership with
local agencies, school boards, and community partner organizations,
and the First Nations Student Nutrition Program is delivered
through a First Nations-led process. Both programs provide
breakfast, snacks or lunch programs to school-aged children and
play a vital role in supporting students' nutritional needs and
promoting positive academic outcomes. Organizations and businesses
that want to get involved can contact Student Nutrition
Ontario.
"Proper nutrition is an important foundation for academic
success, and students should have access to healthy and nutritious
food to support their growing minds and bodies," said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community
and Social Services. "We are grateful for the generosity of our
partners, local community members and volunteers who contribute
their time and money to help the next generation succeed. I commend
their work and encourage Ontarians to get involved to support the
success of Ontario students."
"What is urgently required is a joint federal-provincial
approach to structurally reduce food insecurity. We urge
governments to align behind a goal to reduce food insecurity by 50%
by 2030. The tools to reach this goal are within our reach.
They include implementation of an adequate Canada Disability
Benefit, more supports for populations who are disproportionately
impacted, scaling up programs such as food prescriptions and tax
benefit and social service navigation," concluded Ms. Stern.
About the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security
The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security ("the Centre") is a
registered charity committed to working collaboratively to reduce
food insecurity in Canada by 50%
by 2030. The Centre advocates for critical public policies and
invests in knowledge building and programs that advance the
capacity of people and communities to achieve sustainable food
security. The Centre was created in 2016 and is governed by a board
of directors, including four independent experts.
About Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. ("Maple Leaf Foods") is a carbon neutral
company with a vision to be the most sustainable protein company on
earth, responsibly producing food products under leading brands
including Maple Leaf®, Maple Leaf Prime®, Maple Leaf Natural
Selections®, Schneiders®, Schneiders® Country Naturals®, Mina®,
Greenfield Natural Meat Co.®, Lightlife® and Field Roast™. Maple
Leaf Foods employs approximately 14,000 people and does business in
Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The company is headquartered in
Mississauga, Ontario, and its
shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maple-leaf-foods-and-the-centre-support-expansion-of-healthy-school-meals-in-ontario-with-250-000-donation-301952830.html
SOURCE Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security