Meals on Wheels is providing lunch to every student at St. Teresa of Calcutta Elementary School, east of downtown Edmonton in the Boyle Street neighbourhood. The program serves hot and cold meals four days a week and aims to help students access nutritious food as rising food costs affect families across the city.

“We really wanted an opportunity to kind of expand who we’re helping and who we are serving in the community,” said Adam Zawadiuk, the organization’s executive director. “We know that there’s a lot of schools out there, and a lot of kids who don’t have access to a healthy and nutritious lunch.”

Meals on Wheels has delivered prepared meals for five decades to people facing barriers to healthy eating. Seniors remain a core part of its business, but its programs have changed over the years. “We want to make sure that the kids have full tummies,” Zawadiuk said.

Cheryl Shinkaruk, manager of programs and projects with Edmonton Catholic Schools, said the lunches are having a positive effect. “Food insecurity does exist, with rising costs of food that all of our families are experiencing across the city,” she said. “The students are really excited because it’s an opportunity for them to be able to access nutritious, hot and cold lunches.”

Shinkaruk said having access to lunch can help students succeed in class. “It allows them to be able to focus better in class, participate and engage in their learning,” she explained.

Zawadiuk said Meals on Wheels is glad to help address the need and wants to reach more students. “We know it’s a huge need in the community, and we’re so excited and proud that we’re able to step up and do our part to help meet that need,” he said. “We are really open to some possibilities here. We have the capacity to expand now,” he said.

Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton.