A partnership between the major service clubs in Huntsville and area to combat nutrition insecurity in local schools has been launched.
The following service clubs have already pledged funds; Rotary Club of Huntsville, Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Muskoka and the Lions Clubs of Dwight, Dorset, Baysville and Stephenson.
The kickoff was held Thursday in River Mill Park. So far, a combined $6,500 has been pledged amongst the clubs and the goal is to bring that higher with the help of local grocery stores Independent Grocers, Freshco, and Metro to $8,000.
(Feature Photo L – R) Peter Redwood (Rotary), Stasi O’Hare and Diane Findlay (Baysville Lion’s), Marian Wilson (Doug Wilson hidden behind), Phil Morehead and John Paterson (Dwight Lion’s), Nick Hay and Gord Looker (Dorset Lion’s) and Shirley Bullock (Kiwanis). In front row are Carol Corriveau-Truchon, Trustee (Separate School Board) and Bruce Reain, Trustee (Trillium Board)
Funds pledged in the partnership will be presented to local grocery stores and exchanged for food vouchers. The vouchers will then be shared with Huntsville High school and 7 elementary schools (Spruce Glen, Pine Glen, Saint Mary’s, Riverside, Irwin Memorial, Huntsville Public and V K Greer) to help augment their breakfast and snack programs.
Rick Brooks, the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville’s Secretary-Treasurer says the service clubs looked at the problem collectively.
“What we looked at was the need to address the issue of kids coming to school without proper nutrition, kids coming to school without basically anything in their bellies because they don’t have enough food at home to be able to do what they need to do,” he said.
Kiwanis Secretary/Treasurer Rick Brooks, Bruce Reain, Trustee, Carol Corriveau-Truchon, Trustee and Shirley Bullock, President, Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Muskoka.
The service clubs have a history of supporting local schools and programs already, however independently. This was a vision brought forward by the International bodies of each organization and recommending clubs where possible, to establish a project that they could do collectively for the benefit of the community.
“Individually we can do a lot but collectively we can do a lot more,” adds Brooks.
Brooks says the project was then presented as “Celebrate Community” and the week of October 10-16th was chosen.