One in ten children in Burlington goes to school hungry every day

The Ron Joyce Centre holds food drive to help Burlington youth

DeGroote | Hamilton, ON | May 26, 2011

Being engaged in the Burlington community is a top priority for the DeGroote School of Business' Ron Joyce Centre (RJC). The students, staff, and faculty at the RJC plan to give back to the Burlington community by raising awareness of youth hunger in the area.

The RJC is holding a food drive from May 16 – June 2, 2011 and is partnering with the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton to donate its collected food to Halton Food For Thought. Donations will support youth in need during the summer when they do not have access to nutrition programs at school.

"Every donation to United Way is significant because we are the largest funder of social and health support programs in our community. Our programs support individuals and families across all socio-economic demographics. The programs move people from poverty to possibility, ensure healthy people, strong communities and ensure that children are all that kids can be," says Miriam Gracey, campaign manager for the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton.

The RJC is working with the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton because of the unique programs and services it funds in the City of Burlington that relate directly to youth hunger.

Halton Food For Thought, a United Way agency, provides nutrition programs to schools in Burlington and the Halton Region. It manages 63 breakfast, healthy snack, and emergency lunch programs in Burlington, working to promote the connection between healthy food choices and improved learning.

"When children have enough to eat and eat the proper foods, a whole new world opens up. Well-nourished children can concentrate better in class and be successful in school. A good education is one of the best ways to break the cycle of poverty," says Lena Bassford, manager of community relations at Halton Food for Thought. "Children who eat the right kinds of food on a regular basis also have fewer health problems, are better able to fight off infection, and have a better chance of a healthy development both physically and emotionally. Good nutrition habits at an early age are critical to preventing obesity and other detrimental health problems."

Each day, one in ten children in the Halton Region goes to school without any food. Faculty, staff, and students at the RJC hope their donations will be able to provide kids struggling with hunger with food for the summer months.

Dave Mammoliti, program manager of Executive Education at the Ron Joyce Centre, is helping to organize the food drive, and is pleased to see great enthusiasm and participation in the food drive so far.

"We think it is important to be connected to the community where we work and go to school. Youth hunger is a significant issue in this community and we want to support the great work being done by Halton Food For Thought and the United Way. Together, we can make a difference," says Mammoliti.

The food drive will be held until June 2, 2011 and donations are welcomed at the Ron Joyce Centre (4350 South Service Road, Burlington). For more information on the Ron Joyce Centre visit www.degroote.mcmaster.ca/rjc and to learn more about the programs supported by the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton, visit www.uhwaybh.ca and www.haltonfoodforthought.ca.