A school lunch program in Calgary has seen a 30 per cent increase in students using its service compared to last year—which organizers attribute to the poor Alberta economy.
The Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids (BB4CK) program has been working with schools in the city since 2005. It primarily uses volunteers to help prepare and distribute lunches to over 3,000 students in need.
“We are a small, grassroots organization with a small staff of eight people and about 2,500 volunteers every year,” said Tanya Koshowski, executive director of BB4CK. “It’s about people coming together to help these kids and make a difference in the city.”
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Meals from the group are prepared by volunteers at different locations around the city before being packed and delivered daily to the participating schools. It only costs BB4CK one dollar to make each lunch.
The lunches comprise of a variety of sandwiches, a snack, and a choice of a fruit and a vegetable. The students also receive a serving of yogurt once a week.
“Our vision is really about communities coming together to make sure all these kids are fed,” Koshowski said. “So it’s about people taking small little actions to make a difference.”
Currently, the best way to make a difference with BB4CK is to donate directly to them. The organization only accepts financial donations to ensure food safety.
“Already in the first couple days back in school we are seeing and hearing the need will be increasing,” Koshowski said. “So just be aware of what’s around you and see what you can do to help.”
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