Midale Central School’s Breakfast Club Program will continue its vital support for local students, thanks to a generous $25,000 donation from Pro Canada West Energy. With rising food costs and dwindling grant funds, this contribution ensures that MCS can serve nourishing breakfasts, helping meet the needs of families in the community.
The Breakfast Club program runs every day at MCS. “It is sponsored in part by Breakfast Club of Canada, and we feed about 172 to 180 kids a day,” said Cathy Harvey, principal of MCS. She noted that they have been part of this program for around nine years. However, as food costs continue to grow and available grant money dwindles, they had to reach out to the business community for support.
“We were kind of at a point where we didn’t know if we could keep the program running, and the need in our community is really high,” said Harvey. “So it was really hard for staff to let that kind of program go, knowing the impact it had on our community."
Last year, the school canvassed local companies willing to sponsor the program, and Pro Canada West Energy, along with a couple of other oil companies, stepped up. “This year they contacted us and asked if we required any more sponsorship because they were looking to support things that happen in our community since they are a Midale community organization,” Harvey explained.
After reviewing the numbers with Kelsey Sollosy, vice president of Pro Canada West Energy, the school secured a sponsorship of $25,000, which, in addition to the Breakfast Canada Grant, will help fund the Breakfast Club for the full year. “So our kids get to eat, and our staff doesn’t have to worry about how we’re going to fund it,” said Harvey. “So it’s pretty amazing.”
The program is crucial for many students and their families. “We have a lot of kids that are struggling or families that are struggling financially, and for them, the breakfast program provides a meal and sometimes snacks during the week,” Harvey said. “For kids that are hungry at school, it’s essential. The program is open for everyone because we have kids who leave their homes at 7:00 in the morning, and school starts at 9:00. They either haven't eaten or are hungry again by the time they get here, so it's nice that they can have breakfast as well.”
Harvey also noted that attendance has improved as a result. “Kids are getting to school to have that breakfast, and once they're here, it's easier for them to learn. If their stomachs are full, they're not concentrating on being hungry and how they can get food.”
The program has also positively impacted academics and behavior. “Kids that are hungry don’t want to work and they're not regulated. Kids that are full, however, are much better off,” said Harvey. “The other perk of the program is the downtime it provides. It's like a soft start to the day. Kids come in, they smell breakfast, and they get to chat with staff. It’s just a real easy start to the day rather than jumping straight into work. We check in to see how everyone is doing, talk about what they did the night before, and build positive relationships. That too is an extra side perk from just feeding people.”
“I can't say enough about how thankful we are to Pro Canada West Energy and to the other donors that have supported us in the past,” she added. “Without their support, we wouldn't be able to help the community and the kids in our school the way we can. It's just amazing that they are willing to do that.”
Harvey encourages anyone looking to donate to the Midale Central School Breakfast Club to contact the school. “We can help them make arrangements for donations. We are a charitable organization, so they do get a tax receipt if they want that as well.”