The Student Nutrition Program is a provincially led, regionally directed initiative. The provincial Ministry of Children and Youth Services supports local nutrition programs with money to purchase food and other essentials, while local businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals contribute financial support as well as in-kind donations and volunteer time to plan, support and deliver breakfast, lunch and snack programs.
Interesting Fact: Studies show that 31% of elementary school students and 62% of secondary school students do not start their day with a nutritious breakfast.
Our Schools
In the region of Ontario Central East, The Peterborough Family Resource Centre works as the lead agency, providing support and direction to Durham's Child Nutrition Project and six other regions.
At last count, DCNP administered over 150 breakfast, lunch and snack programs, in Durham Region Schools making nutrtious food accessible to over 50 000 students.
DCNP is managed by a Steering Committee of people who care about children's nutrition and health, including representatives from Social Services, public health department, City of Ajax, school boards, and other community members.
DCNP has 2 Community Coordinators who work closely with their Sterring committee to improve the learning capacity, health and well-being of children by ensuring access to healthy food before, during or after school through school or community-based nutrition programs.
Students themselves, along with parents and teachers, recognize that when our stomachs are full of nutritious food, we learn better and are healthier.