At the June City Council meeting, the motion was brought forward about the possibility of the City of Humboldt providing some funding to the breakfast programs of the three elementary schools in the city.
This past week during the City Council’s Executive meeting, City Controller Jace Porten presented an analysis of the program and summarized that the funding for the breakfast program under the provincial government jurisdiction as opposed to the municipal.
“The current programs at those three elementary schools rely mostly on the provincial funding and are coordinated by volunteers,” said Porten.
“The recommendation from this is that the mayor send a letter to the provincial government advocating for the increased, stable and universal funding for those nutrition programs.”
Porten added, by taking this approach, it allows the city to recognize the need for improvements to the program.
He acknowledged if the city would provide funding it would blur the lines since the programs fall under provincial government and school division mandates.
Mayor Rob Muench said he would be willing to compose a letter that would be sent to the provincial government about the local breakfast programs.
After Porten presented his report, Councillor Sarah McInnis said after speaking with the school’s, a big issue for them is finding volunteers to help with the breakfast program.
Muench mentioned a possible solution to help aid the void of volunteers for ventures within the city including the breakfast program is introducing an app that would allow groups to post volunteer opportunities and residents would be able to sign up.
He said that he met with a group that was at the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities).
“The community can join up for free and people can download the app.”
He added, “Any of the organizations that are looking for volunteers can register as well. And if you get new residents in town that are looking for maybe way to volunteer or looking at getting out in the community and maybe meeting new people.”
Muench noted the app, so there wouldn’t be any cost that would be attached to it.