Nearly 8,000 meals distributed through Every Breakfast Counts, 50/50 draw returns this fall
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The Every Breakfast Counts committee wishes to announce the results of 2023 programming. In total, approximately 7,700 meals were provided this summer – free of charge – to local children. Over an eight-week period from July to August, an average of 963 meals per week were distributed.
Nutritious food items (including fresh fruit/vegetables, cheese and bread) were made available at 10 different locations in the community, including City of Sault Ste. Marie outdoor pools, the Child Care Algoma EarlyON Child and Family Centre and Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services Community Hubs.
The committee wishes to recognize the outstanding efforts of the local volunteers who supported our efforts. The program relied on a dedicated team of five volunteers, who committed approximately three hours per day to prepare meals. Additionally, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Family Services, Social Services of Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Ontario Health Team, John Howard Society, Sault Ste. Marie Police Services and Canadian Mental Health Association volunteered to deliver meals.
“Through the hard work of volunteers and the Every Breakfast Counts committee, we were able to provide local children with thousands of badly needed meals,” said Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. “Harvest Algoma continues to be at forefront of addressing food insecurity in Sault Ste. Marie and following the financial commitments announced at Monday evening’s City Council meeting, I am confident we will be able to reach significantly more children next year with the assistance of the food resource centre.”
To assist with future operations, the Every Breakfast Counts committee is launching a 50/50 draw with the chance to win up to $25,000. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased by contacting the committee member organizations listed below, including at the Algoma Family Services reception desk (205 McNabb Street). The draw date is October 28 at 1 p.m. at Algoma Family Services. The draw will be held by the Algoma Family Services Foundation.
“The community has been incredibly supportive of Every Breakfast Counts, as demonstrated by more than $60,000 in donations received during our fundraising campaign this summer,” said Emily Tremblay, Algoma Family Services Community Services Supervisor.
“The program continues to make a positive difference in the lives of hundreds of children in Sault Ste. Marie, and I encourage people to participate in the draw as a means to support our efforts and for the chance to win up to $25,000.”
Background
Every Breakfast Counts was conceptualized in the spring of 2018 as a means to address a service gap in the community by providing meals to youth who rely on breakfast programming offered during the school year.
Ongoing coordination is facilitated by the Every Breakfast Counts committee, comprised of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Mayor and CAO Offices, District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services, United Way Harvest Algoma, Algoma Family Services, Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, Indigenous Friendship Centre, Child Care Algoma and EarlyON Child and Family Centre.