To help ensure the Ponoka Secondary Campus (PSC) breakfast program has a strong future, Mackenzie’s No Frills made a $1,500 donation to the school Wednesday, June 24.
Money will go to PSC’s Breakfast Club of Canada program, said Sherry Christiansen, food studies teacher and co-ordinator of the program. She said this is the second year of the program at PSC intended to give students a chance at breakfast in the morning.
“We already are teamed up with Breakfast Clubs of Canada and we want to expand this further,” said Christiansen.
The breakfast program is meant to be inclusive for all kids. “It’s not meant to be a stigma,” she stated.
Christiansen said the intent is to give students a “leg up” in the morning. Whether they forgot to eat breakfast, missed the bus or could not afford breakfast that day, the goal is to ensure students have something before the school day begins.
“Whatever your reasons, there’s breakfast here. It’s also part of making this a safe and caring atmosphere,” said Christiansen. “It’s part of the whole culture.”
This is the second year of the program at the school and she says they go through about 120 smoothies in 20 minutes.
“I notice happy kids. They hang out here and it’s a good energy in the morning,” she added.
Colin Mackenzie, owner of Mackenzie’s No Frills said the money came from customer donations and from the store. He feels it is important to ensure the program continues.
He said one of Loblaws’ – the parent company of the No Frills brand – corporate mandates is to support a healthy lifestyle for kids. “This is a great way to give back to the community and support the kids,” Mackenzie noted.
He added that keeping the money in the community is important to their goals.
Mondays and Wednesdays bring a hot breakfast, Tuesdays and Thursdays bring a smoothie breakfast with help from the Ponoka Youth Centre and on Friday a school-wide breakfast is on offer.