Two London, Ont. women tackle food insecurity in schools
Many children in Ontario are facing food insecurity, forcing them to rely on food banks for their nutritional needs.
As advocates and teachers’ unions call on the Government of Ontario to provide a free breakfast and lunch program in schools, two London, Ont. women are taking the initiative to make a difference in their own community.
Alexandra Everitt and Rikki-Lee Featherton are putting together bags full of food for a program they created called The Lunchbox - London.
It’s a food assistance program for families who need help providing a school lunch for their children.
“We provide them with food bundles that will give them different types of lunch foods that they can send their kids to school with so that they don't go hungry at school,” Everitt explained.
The duo became friends thanks to their common interest; Everitt wanting to help children in her son's class going through tough times and Ricki-Lee suffering hardship of her own.
“My father passed away, so, I struggled back then paying for his funeral because I didn’t have any family assistance,” Featherton said. “Anything can come up in life.”
Any family can get a bundle of food simply by joining the Facebook page and sending a message. The food is entirely by donation, which can be made on their Amazon Wish List.
"Currently we have over 800 members in our Facebook group – majority of those are families who are in need,” said Everitt.
To date, they’ve fed over 100 families.
These full-time working moms take the time out of their busy schedules to pick up the groceries, pack bags, and deliver them to families all on their own.
It’s hard work and a big time commitment, but Featherton said it’s worth it.
“Just seeing people’s faces and the joy that they have that they’re able to send their kids to school,” she explained.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The lost season': Winter comes to a close as Canada's warmest on record
The warmest winter on record could have far-reaching effects on everything from wildfire season to erosion, climatologists say, while offering a preview of what the season could resemble in the not-so-distant future unless steps are taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
NEW High thoughts: The habits of Canadian cannabis users are revealed in a new StatCan report
Statistics Canada has conducted a series of surveys to measure the impacts of legalized cannabis since the Cannabis Act took effect in 2018. The latest one, the 2023 National Cannabis Survey, sheds light on users' preferences and habits last year.
Freddie Mercury's home is on the market for first time since 1980 minus his 'exquisite clutter'
Freddie Mercury's sanctuary in London, where he lived the last decade of his life, is on sale for the first time in nearly half a century -- minus his "exquisite clutter."
NEW Where to watch the state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney
A state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be held in Montreal on March 23. CTV News will have live special coverage of his funeral service.
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.