Efforts underway to replace school lunch programs during COVID-19 closures

When Erin Rideout, director of the Inner City Youth Ministry learned Friday that schools across the province would be closed for a minimum of two weeks, she said her first thought went to students who rely on the school lunch program.

The organization provides about47,000 free and subsidized lunches a year in three schools in threeSaint John neighbourhoods through the Lunch Connection Program.

"It was of concern for the families in the neighbourhoods where we work because many of them rely on these food programs for their kids," Rideout said.

"And where it's a surprise for many families, maybe they didn't have a chance to go out to the stores and prepare."

3 lunch-bag locations

Starting Monday, families will be able to pick up bagged lunches at three locations from noonto 1 p.m. Those locations are PULSE Inc. at 251 Wentworth St., the Nick Nicolle Community Centre in the old north end and outside, at the splash pad in Crescent Valley. Those pickups will run from Monday to Friday.

"It's kind of grab and go," Rideoutsaid of the 500-plus lunches that will be prepared.

"We'll be preparing the bagged lunches each day in a community kitchen in the south end at the St. John the Baptist/King Edward School."

Food securityis a real issue in Saint John.- Erin Rideout

Rideout said allpublic health recommendations and guidelines are followedin the preparation and asked people to not attend the lunch pickupif they are sick orhave travelled.

Rideout said they are working closely with schools to get the information out to families, andusing social media as well.

"I think this will be a relief and helpto sort of ease some of the anxiety and maybe a little bit of fear that's in our communities right now. It's one less thing for people to worry about."

Rideoutsaid there were a few different reasons why the organization was concerned, including knowing many families would notbereceiving their child tax credit until Friday.

"Food security is a real issue in Saint John and in a lot of these communities, and we want to make sure that they will be continued to be supported."

At the Fredericton Community Kitchens, Cassandra Blackmore, the incoming executive director, said the organization will be working quickly over the next few days to get something in place to help those students who relied on theStudent Hunger Program.

"It's very important to us to find a way to help facilitate this anyway we can. We're not able to say right now how we're able to do that. This all happened very suddenly."

In addition to providing brown bag lunches each school day, the grouphas a backpack program that sends food home with students each weekend for their familiesm and it also hosts cooking classes.

Blackmore said the group will be meeting over the next few daysto come up with solutions and plans.

"We're going to do our best to reach these families."

Any family in need of immediate assistance should contact Fredericton Community Kitchens.

Social media assistance

In Charlotte County,a Facebook pagecreated by Elizabeth Eldridgeof St. George looks to bridge the gap.

Charlotte County Community Helping Group aims to help students who would no longer have access to school food programs.

"I just got thinking about the kids," Eldridge said. "I know the backpack program, the breakfast programs in the school system around here are really, really well used."

With the abrupt closures of the schools Friday,Eldridgesaid there wasn't time to come up with an immediateplan to fill the gap, so she decided to find a way to help students and families.

"The individuals who were responsible for the program went above and beyond in many cases to do the best that they could, but they're working with limited funds, limited resources."

When requests for assistance come into the Facebook page, the page puts a call out for help. From there, someone agrees to be the drop-off point and delivery person. Donations are put in a box and set outside.The volunteer delivers it to the privately provided addressand leaves itoutside.

"The really cool thing about it is that it's a way to support people in need without any physical contact at any point."

Eldridgesaid she's overwhelmed by the response, giventhe page was only created and posted Saturday.

"It just makes your heart burst."

Asked about the breakfast and lunch programs affected by the closure of schools, Premier Blaine Higgs told reporters Monday that private companies are stepping up to help.