The Kenora District Services Board is taking steps to address food security for children and youth in our area.
The KDSB is spending $130,145 on ten nutritional, healthy food and recreational programs.
The Northwestern Health Unit ‘Nutrition On Weekends’ initiative is on the receiving end of $40,645.
NOW provides easily prepared and packaged healthy food for children on the weekends.
It will support programming in Dryden, Pickle Lake, Machin, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls.
The Making Connections for Children and Youth program in Dryden is getting $25,000.
The group is a non-profit organization that provides services and funding to families, children and youth facing financial barriers to participate in local recreational activities.
The Red Lake Kids Are Recreationally Equal (KARE) program is receiving $7,000 for the same programming.
The Ear Falls Child and Family Supports Enhancement Program is getting $2,750.
For Ignace, the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre Hub is receiving $3,150 for its programming.
The Ignace Nursery School Parent Cooperative is welcoming $2,100.
KDSB Director of Integrated Social Services Sarah Stevenson says the District of Kenora has the second highest child poverty rate in all of Ontario and the 7th highest percentage of low-income families with children of all the Federal Election Districts.
Stevenson adds one aspect of poverty that can be detrimental to overall health and well-being of youth and children is not having enough food to eat or having limited access to nutritious food.
Total Funding: $130,145
-Northwestern Health Unit Nutrition On Weekends Program (Pickle Lake, Machin, Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Red Lake): $40,645
-Nutrition on Weekends Rotary Club Kenora: $21,500
-Making Connections for Children and Youth: $25,000
-Ignace Nursery School Parent Cooperative: $2,100
-Mary Berglund Community Health Centre Hub: $3,150
-Kenora Triple Play: $18,000
-Beaver Brae PASS Program: $4,000
-Minto Parent and Child Resource Centre: $6,000
-Red Lake KARE Kids Are Recreationally Equal: $7,000
-Ear Falls Child and Family Supports Enhancement Program: $2,750
