Okotoks United Church’s school lunch program has ramped up for another year in an ongoing effort to ensure no student goes hungry.
Brian Olson and his wife Shannon have been program co-ordinators since its inception a decade ago and have seen demand for the service grow over that time.
“We were listening to talk radio and there was an organization called Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids and they were talking about how substantial the need was in Calgary and so we said, well, geez, I wonder if there's that (need) in Okotoks,” Olson said of the origins of the local program.
They approached the Foothills School Division and found there was interest, so the initiative started by providing daily lunches to 23 students at two Okotoks schools.
The program has grown over the years to the point where it’s now serving all FSD schools in Okotoks and some weeks volunteers are making lunches for upwards of 100 children.
“I would say it's increased annually,” Olson said. "That may be because of economics, it may be because of awareness, it may be because the schools are getting better at finding kids that need help.
"It's probably all of the above.”
A group of volunteers gathers in the church kitchen every Monday morning to make lunches for the first half of the week, then returns on Thursday morning to do the same for the remainder of the week, including the weekend.
Olson said a typical lunch consists of a sandwich made with either turkey, beef, ham or chicken, a piece of fruit, vegetables and a snack, something like a granola bar or yogurt.
Another group of volunteers picks up the lunches and delivers them to the schools.
“It's a well-oiled machine,” he said.
Olson is proud it's become a year-round program that not only provides weekend bags, but also, thanks to generous support from the community, gift certificates at Christmas, spring break and summer holidays.
“How can you not provide lunch materials to kids on summer vacation? I mean, lordy, if they're not getting lunches during the regular year, what makes you think they're going to get anything to eat (during the summer)," he said.
“We're the only program that goes 365 days a year and we do so with no questions asked. I've had questions from various donors, wondering if the folks are spending the money on booze or smokes or whatever the case, and our answer is very simple: As long as the kids aren’t getting food to eat, we want to be there for them.”
Olson is grateful for the support received from individuals, service clubs and businesses, including The George Traditional House, which gave the program its largest-ever donation and allowed it to expand the assistance it provides over the summer.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also supports the lunch program through donations and volunteers.
“The support from the community, I have to tell you, it's unbelievable. Every time we need a dollar, someone steps up,” said Olson.
