Shuswap Food Action recognizes that healthy eating supports physical, mental, and social well being, as well as academic success, and is more complex than individual food choice. Healthy eating is impacted by environmental and systemic factors at the individual, community, and societal levels. Currently, schools are receiving funding for school meal programs through the Feeding Futures program. While this is a historic event for Canada (which has been the only G-7 country without a national school food program), the amount of money received is still not sufficient to cover the demand; it is meant to be enough to cover meals for about 20% of children in schools. Furthermore, schools often do not have the space, equipment, time or staff capacity to prepare and serve nutritious meals, and without support, must rely on handing out ready-to-eat snacks such as granola bars, yogourt & cheese strings, items which, when purchased as they are typically, take money out of our local food economy and place it within global food corporations. One of the core differences between Shuswap Food Action Society and other programs utilizing provincial funding is that we are prioritizing purchasing local food as often as possible with the knowledge that this is impacting our future food security, not just the immediate need of individual food requirements.
Souper Meals
Souper Meals is a unique program that not only feeds hungry children but also builds the local food economy by directly purchasing from local farms and farm businesses. We are also employing local people; this year 9 cooks who were previously contractors were hired on as employees. These meals are offered universally to all students for free — this distinction reduces the stigma associated with being “in need” or having to register for a targeted program. It also builds food literacy — trying new foods & learning what is seasonally available — and takes advantage of peer support such as when students want to try something new because their friends are eating.
Currently, 17 SD 83 schools (+ other schools), as well as 5 Strong Start programs participate in Souper Meals on either a weekly or monthly basis. In 2023, we supplied more than 45,000 meals. For this school year already, we have served over 24,000 meals and have purchased over $40,000 with local farmers and food producers. More schools are interested, but Feeding Futures funds are used up at this point as they also support Breakfast programs in schools.
So what can we do?
As we are learning, finances are not the only barrier for children accessing nutritious foods. It can be a lack of food literacy, time, the mental wellness of parents and more. We do not always know the whole story and for this reason, Shuswap Food Action is working to change the tune!
In order to make these meals more universal, SFAS utilizes relationships with schools, local farmers and a wide volunteer base with already 500 hours of volunteer assistance. We are creating options for parents, businesses and donors to contribute to the program to ensure that any school can participate and that it remains universal and stigma-free. (Soupermeals | Salmon Arm, BC). We are inspired by Nourish Cowichan, a non-profit in the Cowichan Valley that has been able to fundraise the difference so that all students have access to nourishing meals and snacks every day at school.
