In light of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing recommendations being placed on us by the Province and Public Health officials, Brant Food For Thought has taken measures to protect the health and safety of their employees, Board members and community partners. Although the Brant Food For Thought office is closed to the public until further notice, the staff have continued to work at the office and/or remotely to ensure adherence to social distancing protocols.
Brant Food For Thought knows that this is a difficult time and that many of the students that we have been supporting weekly are being affected by the loss of student nutrition programs due to school closures. That’s why the staff at Brant Food For Thought have been working tirelessly for the past several weeks to create a plan and redirect our resources to help children and youth in Brantford and Brant, and their families during the COVID-19 crisis.
Brant Food For Thought is mobilizing our remaining Provincial food funding, administered regionally by Lead Agency, Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H., in addition to generous municipal, corporate and community food funding, as governed by the Brant Food For Thought Board of Directors. This type of redirecting of resources to support emergency food relief for children and youth is happening all across Ontario in agencies just like Brant Food For Thought.
With the assistance of local suppliers like Forte Produce and Lococo’s, and in partnership with generous community emergency food relief partners, Brant Food For Thought is pleased to launch the Emergency Food Relief Plan, providing Nutritious Food Boxes, bushels of fresh apples and high quality dairy products like cheese and yogurt, to keep children and youth in our community well-nourished during this stressful time. Each box will contain a personalized Note for BFFT Nutrition Box acknowledging the generous support of our partners. Although the schools are closed, students are expected to continue learning through online education portals, and we know that good nutrition contributes to a child’s ability to learn, whether it’s in the school setting or at home.
Our priority in Brantford and Brant remains to ensure that children and youth in our community have equitable access to the most nutritious foods possible that contribute to their ability to learn. During this time of uncertainty, we need to ensure that our most vulnerable children and youth are still nourished and ready to learn. For hungry children, the next several weeks will be critical. Now more than ever, we are here to help our community to continue serving our children and youth during school closures. We anticipate that the Brant Food For Thought Emergency Food Relief Plan will be sustained until the end of this school year, June 2020, as funding and resources allow.
If you or someone you know needs support at this time, please follow the link on How and Where to access BFFT emergency food – April 2020 for children and youth and their families. Brant Food For Thought is accepting donations for this project through our online giving portal at CanadaHelps.org. With your contributions, we can continue serving the children and youth of our community during this difficult time. Thank you for your support—we are in this together.