The school lunch program operated by the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) has been reimagined as an application-free offering.
“We started to see on a front-line level that we were serving more children every year and that is what motivated us to change the perspective and lens on food security in schools and deal with hunger (in) a different way than before,” said WCSS executive director Jackie Dickinson explaining the move to the new model.
Previously, the school lunch program was done in partnership with the schools’ Parent Advisory Councils or parent groups and had a means-application process for families allotting $400 per student. This meant about 35 kids receive two hot meals a week for the school year.
Now food is provided in low-profile packaging every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Whistler Waldorf School, Spring Creek Community School, Myrtle Philip Community School and École La Passerelle. All snack and lunch items are available all day for any child.
In the schools since December, it has opened up food services to more children, and in the last two months the program has provided 2,300 meals and snacks to the schools.
“The advantage (of the old program) … was that none of the children were aware of who was taking part in the hot lunch program, but the disadvantage was that we were only identifying children whose parents had applied and we realized that this application process actually provides some barriers and we wanted to be able to reach more children,” said Cara Burrow, school lunch coordinator and administrative assistant at WCSS.
“We are seeing a growing demand in our community and we need to do our best to meet that need.”
The idea behind dropping the application process came from an organization in Squamish that aims to end homelessness and hunger within the community—Squamish Helping Hands.
The schools have welcomed the program.
“We are grateful for the contribution of our community partner, WCSS, for ensuring all students have access to healthy and nutritious food throughout the day,” said Phillip Clarke, director of instruction, learning services for the school district in an email.
Asked whether there were any concerns about kids accessing food when the help is not needed Dickinson said: “For me, I get concerned when we are projecting an image or thought that kids are asking for food and they don’t need it.
“What we are seeing is the increase of children in need is going up and we want to be thinking of other solutions to support their needs within a school environment.”
Since 2014 the food bank has seen exponential growth in the number of children in need.
In 2014 it served 440 children, by 2015 the number had risen to 632 and in 2016 it jumped to 733 children, said Dickinson.
For those in the Whistler community who want to help, WCSS receives discounts on food, so monetary donations go further than food donations. That being said, food donations are not turned down.
Currently it is funded through support from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, DAYHU Group of companies, and funding from individuals in our community.
The lunch program is also welcoming volunteers to help prepare, pick up and drop off the food. For further inquiries email: [email protected].
