“School Fuel” continues to serve

Sabrina Kooistra
Times Junior Reporter

 

Since 2009, Hope Community Covenant Church’s (HCCC) “School Fuel” has provided a nutritious breakfast to an estimated 350 children every day.
The local, non-profit program was founded by HCCC’s former Children’s Ministry Director Christin Dewald who asked surrounding schools if there was a way that the church could serve them. From their recommendations, School Fuel was formed to provide breakfast for students who may not receive breakfast at home or would strongly benefit from some extra sustenance to aid in a successful school day.
“If they have something in their tummy versus if they’re hungry, they’re focussing on the fact that they are hungry and that they don’t have anything to eat and so they’re more preoccupied with their basic needs not being fulfilled … it absolutely helps them improve their attention and their ability to focus and learn,” said an anonymous community member.
Meredith Goertz, the current orchestrator of School Fuel, personally understands the true impact of the work the church is doing for Strathmore’s children and youth.
“There were a few years when I was young where my Mom, a single mother with three girls, didn’t have enough money to feed us,” she said. “If I can help another child avoid going to school hungry, I will gladly spend my time and resources with a program that does just that.”
The project is run by approximately 35 dedicated volunteers who purchase necessary supplies, prepare meals, and serve three elementary schools, one junior high school, and a kindergarten to Grade 8 school. Every second Tuesday for two hours, community members meet at the Strathmore High School commercial kitchen and bake approximately 2,500 muffins of various flavours.
In addition to muffins, the program also delivers sliced cheese and apples for students who utilize the service. In one year, 125 pounds of cheese, 900 pounds of fruit, and 6,000 muffins are prepared and delivered.
School Fuel is non-profit and so it relies on support from the government and from independent donors. This year alone, School Fuel has received generous donations from United Way, Cenovus, Alberta Culture and Tourism, Cheadle Lions Club, Strathmore Sobeys, Encana, Bell Tone, United Church Women, Strathmore Children’s Festival, The Donald and Linda Murray Foundation, and various other independent donors who have contributed to the annual cost of $18,000 dollars.
“One way School Fuel has influenced me has been in seeing how our community gets behind programs that help improve the wellbeing of children,” she said. “People have stepped up to help each year and as the need increases, so does the number of people needed to be involved.”
Recently, School Fuel has seen a major increase in the amount of students who receive a daily breakfast, which is thought to be a result of the current economic downturn which has plagued the province. “There have been times when finances were low and I brought it to God,” she said. “I know not every project is meant to go on forever so when we began to see gifts arrive one after another, I knew we were supposed to continue on.”
The church’s current focus is to go ‘deeper and wider’ within the community and their faith, but to continue to serve, additional volunteers and donations are requested.
“For children with food scarcity issues, it’s a tangible way to show them God’s love by being the hands and feet of Jesus,” concluded Goertz.