The long school strike didn't just affect teachers and students in the classroom, hundreds of children who normally get breakfast and lunch during school days may have gone hungry.
But a partnership between School District 43 and Share Family and Community Services will hopefully fill the food gap.
The two agencies have pledged $5,000 each (with SD43 funding allocated from provincial Community Link funding that would normally pay for lunches for elementary school students), for a total of $10,000 in gift certificates that will be placed in food hampers Wednesday and next week.
Today, Tuesday, School District 43 sent out a letter to parents about a tentative deal between teachers and School Superintendent Tom Grant said that if the tentative teachers' deal is approved, schools would open Monday, at least for a partial day. Full classes would resume Tuesday, with some gradual entry for kindergarten students.
Check www.sd43.bc.ca for updates through the week.
Approximately 250 vulnerable families who use the food bank will get gift certificates of between $15 and $25, depending on the number of mouths to feed, tomorrow, Wednesday, and another 250 will get them next Wednesday to supplement their food bank hampers.
Share chief executive officer Martin Wyant said the supplement will go ahead despite news of a tentative deal between the government and the BC Teachers' Federation because it will be few days before school is back in session and struggling families need the help.
The gift certificates are for local grocery stores, he said, and will help families struggling to make ends meet. "I know it will make a difference, is it enough? There will never be enough, but it will allow them extra resources to spend there," Wyant said.
SD43 SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM FEEDS 250 KIDS
Assistant superintendent Julie Pearce said typically 250 elementary school children participate in a lunch program paid for by Community Link and 20 schools have breakfast programs to feed hungry children.
She said she hoped the gift certificates will feed children who missed out on school lunches and breakfast over the past few weeks. "I'm hoping it fills up the shelf."
Share is also fundraising for the food bank and asking families to donate staples such as canned fruit and vegetables, peanut butter, canned fish and meat, cereal, rice and pasta.
Non perishable food items may be dropped off at the Share food bank, 2615 Clarke St., at the rear of the building, in Port Moody from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Or visit www.sharesociety.ca to donate on line. Cash donations can also be dropped off in person at 25 King Edward St., Coquitlam or 2615 Clarke St., Port Moody.
