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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, February 23, 2017 | 1 2 Feeduaiy aims to see no student go hungry in Halton by M arta Marychuk O akville Beaver S taff HFFT also runs a Breakfast Cart Program, offering fruit, cheese and fresh sm oothies to students in the classroom. A morning boost No student should go hungry in Halton Halton Food for Thought (HFFT) is cel ebrating its second Feeduary Campaign, to bring awareness and support for healthy eating in Halton schools. The w eeklong campaign, kicked off on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at St. John Catholic El ementary School in Oakville, with Mayor Rob Burton and special guests. Tuesdays and Thursdays Every Tuesday and Thursday, HFFT feeds children a full breakfast to ensure no stu dent goes hungry at school. Incorporated as a registered charity in 2007, HFFT fed more than 25,000 students a w eek in 180 programs last year. Carrie Baillie, com m unity developm ent manager for Oakville, said since the program started, it has changed from poverty reduction to health prom otion over the years. Families are rushed W ith more parents in the workforce, fam ilies are rushed in the m orning and there of ten isn't time for breakfast, says Baillie. In addition to St. John' s breakfast pro gram, w hich includes eggs, bagels, toast cereal, yogurt and a variety of fresh fruit, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was a guest at Food for Thought, a student nutrition program, delivering healthy food to schools at breakfast time. The mayor visited St. John Elementary School at 1480 Mansfield Dr. Monday. Here, he serves breakfast to Saphire Wright. | Riziero Vertolli/Metroland "It gives them a boost for the m orning," Baillie says. Schools w ith student nutrition programs report an 85 per cent increase in attentive ness and readiness to learn and a 66 per cent reduction in unhealthy behaviours.St. John also provides a healthy basket in each class room, w hich includes healthy snacks, so students have access to food during the day. The breakfast program is offered free-ofcharge to all 200 students at St. John, to reduce the stigma that often goes with as sistance programs. Three or four parent volunteers cook, chop and serve the food, with the assistance of student volunteers. Between 70 and 80 students are fed each morning. "Students are som e of the best helpers," Baillie adds. More than 2,000 com m unity volunteers run all HFFT programs. This in cludes 800 students. By involving the students in the breakfast program, Baillie says this supports an edu cational com ponent. Students not only learn about nutrition, see Finding on p.16 Leave a Legacy Planned giving has a powerful impact. Making a legacy g ift to the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital helps put essential medical equipment into the hands o f our caregivers, making a difference in the lives o f patients for generations to come. There are many ways to leave a legacy such as bequests, life insurance, gifts o f securities, charitable annuities and charitable remainder trusts. Legacy gifts do not require great wealth, only great planning. Your estate plan reflects your wishes and values. The Oakville Hospital Foundation can work with you and your advisors to help you plan for tomorrow, while being recognized for your generosity today. Please call 905.338.4642 or visit us online at www.oakvillehospitalfoundation.com for more information. Oakville Hospital Foundation cS JfB R A n /V g 2: Make your mark with a gift of a lifetime