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Central Collegiate’s breakfast program receives $2,500 boost from two businesses

Representatives from Simpson Seeds and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) visited the school on May 22 to make their donations of $500 and $2,000, respectively

The breakfast club at Central Collegiate will continue to provide healthy food for students in the mornings thanks to donations from two agriculture-focused companies. 

Representatives from Simpson Seeds and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) visited the school on May 22 to make their donations of $500 and $2,000, respectively. 

The breakfast program has operated for five years at the school. 

“Part of our corporate social responsibility is to give back to rural communities and help where we can,” explained Kendra Mueller, senior relationship manager, corporate accounts with FCC. “We were very pleased (and super happy) to be able to do this in conjunction with Simpson Seeds.”  

FCC chose Central Collegiate and its breakfast club after learning about the program through Simpson Seeds. 

There are several initiatives FCC focuses on as part of its corporate social responsibility, Mueller continued. These include agriculture safety, fighting hunger, giving back to rural communities, and supporting agriculture in education. 

“This was a perfect fit,” she added. “The breakfast program is something very important to the community and I know it’s well used.” 

The donations are huge and will ensure the breakfast program flourishes, said vice-principal Lonny Holmes. There are times when the program just gets by, but with these donations, the club will be able to feed more students until the end of the school year and have a good start for next year.
 
“(I’m) beyond ecstatic that people recognize what that does for kids … All kinds of positives that come from two big donations,” he said. 

Holmes explained that some kids need a full breakfast in the morning, while others are simply busy — with swimming, for example — and need a piece of toast before class. This is why the breakfast club room can be busy from 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. 

Grade 9 student Andon Constable uses the breakfast club three days a week, particularly if he wakes up late at home. 

“It’s pretty important because a good breakfast helps you with school,” he said, “and it’s pretty good to eat, because if you don’t eat, you won’t do well in class. I think it’s good that it’s here.”

The number of students who use the breakfast services ranges from 45 to 90 on a daily basis, Holmes said. It’s slightly busier in the winter than the summer, while students participate in sports can stay at school instead of going back home. 

“It’s also a connection point. You see some kids, that’s where they meet … ,” he continued. “That’s another piece of it that people don’t think of it.”

Exam week can also be stressful for students, so school administrators and teachers ensure there is something nutritious in the morning. 

The core purpose of Simpson Seeds is to nourish the world, so it likes to support programs that feed people, said spokeswoman Elyce Simpson Fraser. The breakfast club is important for many students, including her son. It’s handy to have the program when students miss breakfast at home or are in rush to get to school. 

This was Simpson Fraser’s first time visiting the breakfast club and she appreciated seeing the students use the program. She pointed out students need healthy and nutritious food to support their learning and cognitive abilities. 

“We are just really appreciative of the program and I hope that more people consider donating to this in the future,” she added. “We’re excited to see how the funds are used in the future here.”  

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