NEW FUNDING WILL ALLOW BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA TO KEEP FEEDING KIDS DURING COVID-19

Government of Canada announces multimillion-dollar funding package to ensure children and families have access to food during this crisis

Montréal, April 3, 2020 – Today, the Government of Canada took an important step to protect our children and families who are currently facing food insecurity by announcing $100 million in relief for the Canadians who need it most.

$5 million has been allocated to Breakfast Club of Canada through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to support breakfast program enrollees and local community organizations that assist food-insecure families.

“Since this crisis began, Breakfast Club of Canada and multiple partners across the country have been working tirelessly to ensure kids who depend on school meal programs have access to healthy food during the pandemic,’’ said Daniel Germain, President and Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada. ‘’The mass mobilization and acts of solidarity we have seen on the ground in the face of such challenging times is truly awe-inspiring and makes me incredibly proud to call myself a Canadian. Today’s $5 million commitment from the federal government will allow Breakfast Club of Canada for the next few weeks to continue working with collaborators to feed kids and support the families who need it most.’’

While hundreds of thousands of students usually depend on the Club and its partners for a healthy breakfast every school morning, the total number of children and youth across the country affected by food insecurity is actually greater than 1 million. COVID-19 has hit the most vulnerable Canadians the hardest, and these families and communities require dedicated support during these challenging times to ensure that no child goes hungry.

Our front-line team members, dedicated volunteers and hundreds of community organizations are working around the clock to make sure families don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

To combat this crisis, Breakfast Club of Canada has created an online emergency relief fund to help families access the funding they need to be administered through a Special Grants Initiative. Individuals can access this initiative through an online portal, located on Breakfast Club of Canada’s website, specifically designed for the COVID-19 crisis.

As the world waits for things to settle, hunger continues and there is no safe place for children to ride out the storm. Alongside our partners, allied organizations and today’s investment from the federal government we will all strive to ensure no child or family faces food insecurity during COVID-19.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance, the Club provides much more than breakfast: its approach is based on commitment, self-esteem and capacity development using an optimal formula adapted to local needs. Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 243,500 children and youth in 1,809 schools across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org.

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For more information and interview requests:

Nathalie Rochette
Communications Director
Breakfast Club of Canada
nathalie.rochette@breakfastclubcanada.org
1-888-442-1217, ext. 3348
514-404-5660

Justine Plourde
Communications Advisor, Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
1-888-442-1217, ext. 3369