The Blackfalds Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) has partnered with the local coffee shop After the Grind and the Blackfalds' Foodbank to provide students who are stuck at home due to the pandemic with their regular lunches. 

“With the schools all being closed and our lunch programs all being offered by our parent fundraising bodies at each of our schools, there was a need that came forth with a lot of our low-income families that have some food and security issues,” said Sue Bornn, Family and Community Support Services Manager. 

The Lunchbox Program will connect families with the resources that'll enable them to give the students two lunches per week.

“Families need to connect with Blackfalds FCSS and we will connect them with this program where they can access healthy lunches and nutritious snacks for the children and their families on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week. We are very hopeful that our funding will take us through to the end of June which will hopefully really meet a need for these children in these communities,” explained Bornn. 

In only about a week and a half, the Blackfalds FCSS has already raised $16,000 in order to run the program. If donations continue to grow, Bornn hopes the lunchbox program will be available for more than two times a week. 

“We have quite a list of folks that we know are wonderful supporters of the community and we’ve reached out to them and this is just very telling that they are truly supportive of the community. They are so willing to support this so quickly. I think we’ve been looking for funding just over a week,” explained Bornn. 

So far, the Blackfalds FCSS and After the Grind has seen donations from people from the community, including Telus, ME Global, Go Services Inc., Vesta Energy, DOW Canada, Blackfalds IGA, and A1 Max Convenience Store. Trail Appliances was able to donate a 19.8-foot chest freezer to the Blackfalds Foodbank to help manage their food supply. 

All food is prepared under current government recommendation and there is no eligibility for the program. 

“If individuals feel that this program would be beneficial for their children to get some healthy nutrition throughout the regular school week we want to hear from them and we would love to support them. There’s zero eligibility. They do need to live in Blackfalds or call Blackfalds their catchman area and they must be able to come pick it up as well. We will not be offering deliveries,” said Bornn. 

If you are interested in donating or receiving aid from the Lunchbox Program you can contact the Blackfalds FCSS at 403-600-9066 or visiting their website by clicking here.