The provincial school shutdown during the first wave of the pandemic showed how valuable food programs are in schools.
Food Depot Alimentaire, based in Moncton, supports 26 breakfast programs in schools through the southeastern region of the province.
Executive Director Chantal Senecal said a mobile bag lunch program was quickly organized with help from the United Way and the Anglophone East School District.
“The United Way delivered bag lunches with the food we would provide to targeted neighbourhoods across the city. We did that for 13 weeks. We were sending out about 700 bag lunches every single week,” Senecal said.
Moncton Headstart also helped with the program by providing a bus, she said.
Senecal said the pandemic really identified the need in schools and many provincial food banks started tackling the need at schools.
“They are taking their resources, their staff and volunteers and donations and helping schools in their own communities, so a huge need there,” Senecal said.
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