Elmvale Presbyterian Church Supports School Food Programs
By Mary Fleming, Sep 6, 2025
In May, Elmvale Presbyterian Church held a BBQ/Bake Sale and on Labour Day weekend hosted an “all you can eat” BBQ and Corn event both in support of the Food Programs at Huronia Centennial and Our Lady of Lourdes elementary schools. Parents and children from each school provided invaluable and enthusiastic assistance at both events and a cheque for $1500.00 each was presented to Tracy Ritchie-Toner of HCES and Lyndsay Steele of OLOL.
It is a proven fact that children concentrate better with food in their tummies and
the elementary schools in Elmvale, Huronia Centennial and Our Lady of Lourdes, both have food programs in place similar in the wish to nurture children but unique to each school’s HCES program is titled “Mindful Mornings”. About 500 children are enrolled and 2 days a week, before school, they have the opportunity to get food and do mindful activities in a coloring or reading corner or do some stretching activities in the gym. Using an approved list from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), a variety of foods are offered. A fruit basket and fridge are stocked with fresh cut vegetables, hummus and yogurt and are available to the children daily and monthly waffle days are held.
Our Lady of Lourdes enrollment is not that of HCES and their program is somewhat different. Each classroom and the main office have bins filled with varying healthy snacks that the children can easily help themselves to if they have not had breakfast or did not bring their lunch. Elmvale Presbyterian Church thanks Elmvale and the surrounding district for supporting our mission.
H.C.E.S. Breakfast Program
By Pat Leonard, Public Relations, Centre Flos W.I. Sep 9, 2025
Centre Flos W.I. welcomed Tracy, representing the H.C.E.S. Breakfast Program, as our guest speaker on Tuesday September 2nd, 2025. She explained that this is strictly volunteer program, running two mornings each week, just prior to the students starting their daily classroom studies. Adhering to the Board of Education rules about what type of food items that they are permitted to offer the children can be a onerous task: i.e. maximum sugar content, minimum protein content, no chocolate, no nuts. Weekly shopping trips, where maximum value for the cash available, are a constant challenge. Volunteers take their turns at preparing fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as setting up the snack area. Some of the older students have taken on leadership roles to help these adults – making it a win-win event. A donated small refrigerator, in the school office, is stocked daily with fresh fruit and vegetables for those students needing a nutritious boost.
More than 100 students use this program every day. Teachers have seen a marked improvement in students who have been able to start their day with nutritious food. It is truly inspirational to hear what a difference that this has made in our youth.
This program receives no monetary support from the School Board, relying on fund-raising events like the Tim Horton’s Holiday Smile Cookie event, and donations from our amazing community.
The members of Centre Flos Womens’ Institute have donated half of the profits from our summer Coffee Parties to this venture, and hope that when others read this information, perhaps they will be able to help out as well. The remainder of our Coffee Party profits will be donated to our local Food Bank.