Breakfast Club of Canada
Breakfast programs ensure that all students have reliable access to nutritious food in a safe and supportive environment, in order to positively impact health and learning.
Our Guiding Principles:
- Give access to a healthy breakfast in a warm, inviting setting every day.
- Be available to all students at the elementary and high school level.
- Have every breakfast served by welcoming and attentive adults.
- Encourage students to volunteer their time to develop life skills, leadership acumen and self-confidence.
Starfish Pack
The Starfish Pack Program started as a pilot project with 6 backpacks as a response to an Abbotsford teacher’s cry for help. She was feeding many of her Kindergarten students who were coming to school on Monday hungry. The hunger was affecting their moods and their ability to focus in class. This was not just an Abbotsford problem.
Many students across the province rely on school breakfast and lunch programs to fill their tummy’s on school days. When it comes to the weekend, they don’t have the food they need. Starfish Pack was designed to help change that. Starfish provides backpacks with 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks to hungry students each weekend of the school year.
Teachers have reported improvements in children’s reading skills, math skills, ability to focus and to do partner work. Starfish has now expanded to over 20 cities and is helping make sure children across BC and Whatcom County don’t have to worry about weekend hunger.
In Langley, Starfish Packs are supported by two local organizations:
North Langley
VISIT ROTARY CLUB LANGLEY SUNRISE
Backpacks crammed with nutritious food for students to take home to their families every weekend and holiday. Sponsored by Sunrise Rotary. Donate to Starfish North Langley
In 2017 the Langley Sunrise Rotary club recognized the need for students in the North Langley area to have nourishing food on weekends. Teachers noticed that children of families in need were less attentive and concentration levels were low on Mondays.
Students were able to participate in breakfast and lunch programs at their school but weekends left a void in their nutrition. The club decided to join the many community organizations supporting Starfish Backpacks.
We started by supporting three schools in Fort Langley and Walnut Grove with 12 backpacks and have grown to 20 packs at five schools in North Langley.
Children can’t learn when their tummies are empty that is why we’re supporting families in need. With your help, the future looks brighter for kids when they don’t have to worry about being hungry on the weekends. Approximately $600 feeds a child every weekend of the school year.
Central Langley
United Churches of Langley members along with community volunteers and teachers/students from Brookswood Secondary School sort, pack and deliver 46 back packs to six elementary schools each week when school is in session. When school is not in session (i.e. Summer, Christmas and Spring Break) gift cards are provided.
It costs approximately $675 per year to feed a child every weekend. Our program is supported by United Churches of Langley Social Justice and Outreach Program and a generous donation from the Shewan Foundation. To donate to Starfish Langley Central, click here (in the contribution section please note it is for Starfish Langley Central).
Each pack provides enough food for two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, fresh fruits and snacks for the weekend.
In the words of Gord Stewart – Langley School District retired Superintendent. “There are many reports that state starting the day with a healthy, well-balanced meal has a significant effect on academic success. The work done by the local Starfish group has been greatly appreciated by our staff, students and families.”
Snack Program
Township of Langley Firefighters Charity
Since 2014 we have been providing healthy snacks to students in need in various schools in the Township of Langley. We currently provide snacks for 23 schools, and our program has stayed active during COVID-19. With your support, we believe we can expand the program to serve all schools in Langley, and we invite you to share this journey with us. Offering nutritious and energy-producing snacks throughout the long day.
City of Langley Fire Rescue Service
Providing snacks for Langley City schools. Offering nutritious and energy-producing snacks throughout the long day.
Kids Helping Kids Clothing Drive 2023
