Manitoba looks to deliver food to low-income families while school meal programs cancelled

The Manitoba government plans to replace school meal programs by delivering food to low-income families across the province.

With schools cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has issued a request for proposals for companies that could supply meal packages with easy-to-prepare instructions.

“With school being suspended, many children are missing out on the benefits of a nutrition program,” Families Minister Heather Stefanson said in a written statement Thursday.

The government aims to supply about 15,000 students with food, but is prepared for that number to rise.

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“With pending job losses and wage losses, it is anticipated that the numbers of students that require nutritional supports will grow,” reads the request for proposals.

Last year, about 34,000 students received help from a variety of nutritional support programs.

Prospective suppliers have been told to submit their bids by next week. They are to include plans to deliver the food to hubs in different communities, so that the program can be running by May 11.

The government will seek other people, including volunteers and non-profit groups, to get the food from hubs to people’s homes.

Manitoba schools have not held in-person classes since March 20, and are not expected to resume for the rest of the school year.

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Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

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