HAGERSVILLE—From cereal boxes to classrooms, a generous donation from the Hagersville Food Bank is fuelling more than just stomachs – it’s fuelling futures.
The food bank has donated $42,434.81 to Haldimand-Norfolk REACH’s Children’s Nutritional Network, a vital support for local school-based nutrition programs that ensure students have access to healthy snacks and meals throughout the day.
“This is the second year we have supported the local school snack programs,” said Dave Lane of the Hagersville Food Bank. “We donated over $30,000 last year.”
The funds will go directly toward the Student Nutrition Program in Haldimand and Norfolk, which is coordinated by HN REACH. The initiative ensures that all children and youth attending publicly funded schools can access nutritious food, regardless of their background or financial situation.
“This donation has such a big impact on the students we serve,” said Nancy Schuur, Group Services & Prevention Worker with HN REACH. “The money will go directly into the schools to support the food programs.”
“It helps purchase nutritious food, and it also helps support the volunteers running these programs,” explained Shuur. “It gives them the confidence and assurance that they have the funding in place to continue doing this important work.”
Since 2005, HN REACH has served as the lead agency for the Ontario Student Nutrition Program (SNP) in the Hamilton-Niagara region. In this role, it not only delivers programming in Haldimand and Norfolk, but also works with three organizations to provide SNP in Brant, Hamilton, and Niagara.
The guiding principles of the program include universal access, safe and nutritious food options, and deep community involvement.
“Programs are delivered by school staff and volunteers,” Schuur noted. “They are supported by the wider community, including parents, caregivers, and local stakeholders, who contribute financially or through volunteering.”
Back in Hagersville, the food bank itself is dealing with growing demand. Although the organization had to move from weekly to biweekly service in 2023 due to capacity issues, the number of families needing assistance remains high.
“We are currently assisting over 50 families a week,” Lane said. “Last May we were seeing 70-80 families a week and had to change our service model from weekly visits to every other week as it was just not sustainable from a cost factor and a volunteer factor. This year the numbers have increased again to the current 50 a week and we expect it to continue to rise.”
The food bank relies on a dedicated team of over 50 volunteers and is preparing for what could be another difficult year. Lane expressed concern about how factors like rising food prices, potential job losses, and economic uncertainty might affect their ability to meet demand.
“Last year there was more than $180,000 in groceries handed out to our clients,” he said. “This year, with the threat of tariffs and possible job losses, we anticipate our client numbers increasing to the point of having to add a second service day and our food costs to soar.”
Items most in demand at the food bank include cold cereal, canned meats, canned fruit, and pasta sauce. Donations of those items are welcome, as are financial contributions.
“Currently the only food drive scheduled is the Lions food drive on April 26,” Lane said.
Despite the challenges, the food bank remains committed to supporting initiatives like the Student Nutrition Program, which Lane says directly benefit families who also rely on their services.
Schuur emphasized that student nutrition programs are about more than just food – they are about helping children reach their full potential.
“It’s all about making sure children have access to healthy food so they can focus on learning,” she said. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the Hagersville Food Bank. It makes a real difference in our schools.”
Donations can be made at the Hagersville Food Bank every Thursday between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (call ahead if donations are perishable). Monetary donations can be made in-person, at canadahelps.org, or by e-transfer (include name and email in memo line for a receipt) to hvillefoodbank12@rogers.com. For more details on the Hagersville Food Bank, visit hagersvillefoodbank.org.
