REGINA – A project led by the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) to expand school food infrastructure in Saskatchewan has been approved to receive $1 million in federal government funding from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF).
The project “Expanding school food infrastructure in Saskatchewan: Ensuring equitable reach” will distribute up to $1 million to eligible organizations across the province who are serving school food and nutrition programs for children and youth in need.
“We are thankful to the Government of Canada for its support of this approach, which will see school food infrastructure dollars flow through to local communities in Saskatchewan where they will have the most impact,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, President of the SSBA. “Supporting school food programs has been an important focus for locally elected school boards, and this is one exciting new way in which we are able to help reach our goal to reduce known barriers to learning, attendance and school success.”
Key project outcomes will include increasing the capacity of organizations to provide or upgrade food preparation spaces, storage, equipment, and transportation/delivery that improve the food environments within schools and strengthen community food security.
“Stay tuned for more information about how this project will roll out,” said Davidson. “This grant helps us to leverage and build upon the many existing partnerships and programs that already help to ensure children and youth are not hungry at school or worrying about their next meal. We have more work to do to solve this problem and Saskatchewan people and communities will play a big part in helping us get there.”
Eligible recipients are community-based, not-for-profit organizations engaged with school food programs.
The SSBA will monitor the progress of recipient activities, and support the program through our School Food Roundtable, Kaylee Michnik, SSBA School Food Programs Researcher and Kelly Berlinic. Kaylee was instrumental in exploring and securing this grant, and Kelly has long supported a school food grant through the Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge.
Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF).
Ce projet est financé par le ministère de l’Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada sous le Fonds pour l’infrastructure alimentaire scolaire (FIAS).