1 January, 2011

Feeding the Children

From the left: Ami Williaume, Greg Le Breton, P J Donaldson, Olivia Tanuseputro, other staff and students at Stephen Lewis Secondary School's Breakfast Club.

[From P. J. Donaldson] One initiative the District 19 Occasional Teachers Bargaining Unit undertakes each year is to support Breakfast Clubs in Peel Secondary Schools. This past December I had the privilege of handing over a cheque for $250 to the three organizers: Ami Williaume, Greg LeBreton and Olivia Tanuseputro at Stephen Lewis Secondary School. These three are responsible for the majority of the fundraising and purchasing for their site. However, approximately twenty staff are involved with the actual running of their breakfast club.

Three days a week, these dedicated teachers open the doors to their staff room to feed sixty students, on an average day. Menu items vary, but, include such delights as chocolate milk, juice boxes, granola bars, cheese strings, yogourt, fresh fruit and baked goods, when available. All provided items help their students start their day a little happier.

I found the operation of the program was very organized, well run, and the start-up that morning took less than five minutes with some student volunteers helping out with tables and handing out food items. They only ask the grade level of each student to help in qualifying for funding.

Keep up the great work SLSS Breakfast Club!

Does your school have a Breakfast programme? Request for funds should be sent to Terry Murphy, President, D19 OTBU c/o the Educator's Centre, Edwards Blvd, Mississauga.

COPIES OF THE APPEEL