By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Never underestimate the power of a cheese string or a bunch of grapes.
That’s according to those who help feed children in 46 schools in Chatham-Kent. Administered by the Victorian Order of Nurses, the local Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP) distributes more than 1.8 million snacks annually to some 15,000 students in Chatham-Kent.
As part of a Fueling Our Futures awareness event held recently at Retro Suites in Chatham, two local educators shared the many positives the OSNP has on local youth.
Mike Hardwood, vice-principal at Tecumseh Public School in Chatham, and Mike Ostropolec, co-ordinator of the breakfast program at Tilbury District High School, get to see the difference nutrition makes in the lives of students.
“We are probably the most diverse school in Chatham,” Hardwood said, adding the school population draws from every socio-economic group.
“On average, we are probably feeding 400 students a day,” Hardwood told the gathering, at a cost of about $1,000 a week.
He said the school is also helping 25 families with food, clothing and hygiene products.
“A lot of families don’t know where to turn.”
According to Hardwood, 24 snack plates are prepared and delivered to every homeroom each morning.
“You wouldn’t believe the amount of students who can’t believe they have a cheese string,” Hardwood said, adding some students come from families who either can’t afford or don’t value nutrition.
Participating in the program is rewarding for everyone involved, including volunteers and donors.
“You will see just the absolute joy in the faces of these students and how much it means to them that somebody cares about them,” he said. “It’s a really hard thing to talk about sometimes…to see a kid who’s struggling…and they get what they need.”
Ostropolec echoed Hardwood.
“I have personally witnessed students who come to school hungry and it’s not a sight to see,” Ostropolec said, adding he wasn’t aware of such problems when he was in high school.
However, he said he’s “seen the joy” the nutrition program brings.
“Who would have thought a cheese string could literally bring someone to tears? Those faces of the students are just etched into my mind.”
A total of 300 healthy snacks are provided each day at TDHS, he added, and a hot breakfast or lunch is served every Friday.
“It gives students an opportunity to start their day with something positive,” Ostropolec said.
Ostropolec’s wife Amy, community development coordinator for the C-K program, said nutrition is critical to young minds.
“Being universal and accessible to all students is very important to our program,” Ostropolec said. “There are always fresh fruits and vegetables available – that’s a requirement of the program.”
Based on capacity and need, each school is able to tailor their program, she added.
A lack of food at home is but one of the reasons children and youth access the program, Amy said. Early mornings, extracurricular activities and a chance to eat with their peers are other reasons students utilize it.
“The impact of nutrition just doesn’t affect one area of life – it affects all areas,” she said. “It affects their bodies and the way that they move. It encourages children to choose healthier options and it improves concentration.
“It influences attitudes and behaviours to last a lifetime.”
Seed money for the OSNP is provided through the federal and provincial governments and is supported by a wide range of volunteers. Based on an estimate of $1.50 per snack, the local program costs about $4 million annually.
