After the school closures during summer and the end of school meals that come with it, Food Banks Canada is reaching out to kids and delivering meals to thousands of kids across Canada.

For some kids, the last day of school before summer break also means the end of the critical in-school meal programs that keep their growing bodies healthy and strong. This year, Food Banks Canada is aiming to deliver over 215,000 healthy food packs to kids in 235 communities nationwide. It’s part of the “After the Bell” program, aimed at tackling growing child hunger.

When schools are unable to provide food assistance to students during the summer break, the “After the Bell” program supports the kids by providing them nutritious, kid-friendly food packs throughout the summer break. The food banks enrolled in the program receive packs that contain shelf-stable items such as milk, hummus, crackers, cereal, oatmeal, and sunflower seeds. They also receive grant money to supplement the food packs with perishable items such as apples, sugar snap peas, cheese, and yogurt.

Food Banks Canada’s “After the Bell” program, which provides summer meals to address childhood hunger, was established in 2015. The program delivered 700 food packs in 7 communities in 2017 and has grown to deliver 200,000 packs across 200 communities in 2024. You can learn more about the program here.