Over 8000 Local Students & Staff Join in Great Big Crunch Heard From Coast to Coast
Written by admin, March 12, 2015
March 12, 2015 – Event Celebrates Healthy Eating and Student Nutrition Programs As Part of 2015 Nutrition Month
Today 8,443 students and staff from 25 schools in Peterborough City and County took part in a Canada-wide synchronized bite of locally grown apples to promote healthy eating and to celebrate local food during 2015 National Nutrition Month.
“The Great Big Crunch is a fun way to bring staff and students together to make noise for healthy eating and local food systems,” said Chris McCarthy, Food For Kids Peterborough and County Student Nutrition Program Coordinator. “This event is a great way to celebrate March as nutrition month and provide students and teachers the opportunity to connect nutrition to learning.”
At Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School, Principal Mary Cozzarini stated, “We believe that encouraging healthy eating is an important part of being a healthy school. We are excited to take part in the Great Big Crunch to emphasize eating delicious, healthy, local foods!”
This year, Soroptimist International of Peterborough partnered with Food for Kids to help fund this event. “Our members recognize the importance of this educational opportunity, which coincides with the Soroptimist mission ‘to improve women’s and girls’ lives through a program that will provide social and economic empowerment,” said Tanna Edwards, President of Soroptimist International of Peterborough. “Certainly teaching our children to choose healthy foods and helping them to understand the value of good nutrition will provide better learning outcomes, thereby nurturing their empowerment.”
Organized locally by Food For Kids Peterborough and County, the Great Big Crunch is a national event initiated by FoodShare Toronto to raise awareness about healthy eating and local and global food systems. This year, local apples will be distributed by RJ’s Fresh Produce in Peterborough.
Food For Kids Peterborough and County is a non-profit community partnership which supports student nutrition programs in 48 elementary and secondary schools throughout Peterborough County and City. Student Nutrition Programs in Peterborough City and County are supported by our generous community through financial and in-kind donations, as well as funding from the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Breakfast Clubs of Canada, and Breakfast for Learning through their local charitable partner, the Peterborough Family Resource Centre.
Each student nutrition program is staffed by volunteers who offer healthy food choices in an inviting, inclusive and welcoming environment to all students. In the 2013-2014 school year, more than 1000 volunteers dedicated over 900 hours each week to help serve almost 2.2 million breakfasts and snacks to local students. Over 180 local community partners donated food, funding, supplies, space, and volunteer time to support Food For Kids programs.
For more information about Food For Kids, to volunteer or to make a donation, visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/ffk. Follow Great Big Crunch activities on Twitter: #greatbigcrunch.
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For further information, please contact:
Luisa Magalhaes, MHSc, RD
Public Health Nutritionist
Peterborough Public Health
705-743-1000 ext. 233
lmagalhaes@peterboroughpublichealth.ca
Chris McCarthy
Food For Kids Peterborough and County Student Nutrition Program Coordinator
cmccarthy.snp@live.com