The Grande Prairie Firefighters Charitable Foundation provides donations to support school nutrition programs (photos courtesy of the GPPSD)

By Liam Verster

Supporting School Nutrition Programs

Grande Prairie Firefighters Association donations go to feed school children

Nov 27, 2020 | 1:37 PM

The Grande Prairie Firefighters Charitable Foundation has made two donations this week to support nutrition programs in local schools.

On Monday, the Foundation presented the Grande Prairie Public School Division with a cheque for $15,000, and then on Wednesday another $5,000 was gifted to the Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools.

The Foundation has been supporting this program for the past several years, and used to gift the funds directly to schools themselves. However, after having discussions with the organizers of the nutrition programs, they decided to gift the money directly to the school divisions.

Justin Davidson, chairperson for the foundation, says by doing the donations this way, the school divisions can ensure the money goes to support those most in need.

“There are schools that need help more than others in town, and actually a big one this year to highlight is the high schools that aren’t getting as much help as they are either,” says Davidson.

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“So, by donating to the fund as a whole, they are able to distribute it to the schools that need it the most right off the bat.”

He adds that this year has been especially hard on families who are struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and high unemployment rates.

“Kids are showing up to school with less and less appropriate meals and food to help them fuel themselves throughout the day.”

Davidson adds that while these programs are supported through other charities as well as government funding, it’s an important cause and he’s glad the Foundation could do it’s part.

The money for these donations came from fundraisers held last year that weren’t distributed, and because they couldn’t hold their regular fundraisers this year, including the golf tournament.

Davidson says he hopes that the COVID restrictions lessen in the new year, so they can plan some events to raise money that will go to supporting other causes in the future.