Select students and families within Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools will receive three meals daily and a few extras thanks to new funding from the provincial government. The Grande Prairie Schools Snack Program recently received $50,000 from the Alberta government as part of $10 million going towards 210 food banks across the province.
Executive Director at Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Education Foundation Kari Prichard says, with the grant, the program will provide between $300 to $400 every month in groceries toward children and families with the most need.
“With this grant, we can make sure children outside of the classroom can have food on the table even when they are home as well, so we are really excited to get this grant.”
Prichard adds that during COVID-19 and post-pandemic, they found out many parents within their school district lost their jobs and are struggling.
“Now that restrictions are over, it continues to affect families trying to get ahead because now they are having to deal with inflation, food costs, the carbon tax, and heating bills. So providing this grant to help with groceries will add a few extra dollars each month.”
Prichard adds that as part of the program, families and students signed up will receive grocery order forms to provide what type of groceries they will need for their household, and then the foundation will order the groceries.
Other Grande Prairie food banks receiving grants are the Salvation Army, the Khwahish Foundation, and the Pregnancy Care Centre Grande Prairie.