Pictured above (L to R): Adam Christensen, FirstOntario Blue Wave; Christine Susa, Community Impact Manager, FirstOntario Credit Union; David Corbett, FirstOntario Blue Wave; Richard Leadbetter, Board Vice-President, Brant Food For Thought; Troy Tindale, FirstOntario Credit Union, Brantford Branch Manager; Barry Doan, FirstOntario Blue Wave; Nancy Waldschmidt, Community Development Coordinator, Brant Food For Thought; Gisèle Budgell, Program Director, Brant Food For Thought; Judy Maidment, Community Development Coordinator, Brant Food For Thought; Jay and Linda Howell, owners Brantview Apples & Cider Farm.
It was a fun start to the day at Brantview Apples & Cider Farm in St. George. Owners Jay and Linda Howell welcomed the Brant Food For Thought team and FirstOntario Credit Union Blue Wave employees, who volunteered to pick up apples for delivery to school-based nutrition programs in Brantford and the County of Brant. Twenty-three (23) schools will be participating in the annual Apple Crunch Week, launching October 31st until November 4th. The apples are being funded in part by FirstOntario Credit Union.
With their focus on ensuring that students have access to nutritious foods to succeed in school, FirstOntario Credit Union renewed their support of student nutrition programs in Brantford and Brant with a donation of $30,000 for the 2022-2023 school year, bringing their total investment to date in our programs to over $217,000.
Recognizing that food insecurity is on the rise and continues to be an ongoing challenge affecting students in our schools, FirstOntario recently pledged $230,000 in additional funding for student nutrition programs across several regions where FirstOntario operates, topping their total investment to date to over $2 million. Brant Food For Thought is among one of eight recipient agencies that support and facilitate healthy meals and snacks in local elementary and secondary schools.
“Student nutrition programs are a lifeline for many children in the communities we serve,” expressed FirstOntario CEO Lloyd Smith, “and we want to do our part to help facilitate these services that so many young kids rely on.”
The annual Crunch Week is a fun and nutritious way for schools to raise funds to support their student nutrition program. Participating schools will receive in total 70 bushels or close to 8,400 apples to be consumed during the school events.
Brant Food For Thought is extremely grateful for the ongoing support from FirstOntario Credit Union and the assistance through their Blue Wave employee program. FirstOntario is more than just a financial institution. They care about the community and believe by being hands on contributors and bringing awareness to important initiatives, everyone benefits. They want to see communities thrive. Supporting student nutrition programs is just one of the many ways that FirstOntario Credit Union makes a difference in the communities where they operate. Thank you FirstOntario for helping Brant Food For Thought provide equitable access to nutritious foods for students in an effort to maximize their learning success at school and beyond.