The May Court Emergency Food Box Program

The May Court Emergency Food Box program was started by a few May Court volunteers in 1991 serving six area schools.  Its purpose was to help meet the needs of hungry students on an ‘emergency’ basis by providing nutritious, single-serving snacks. At present, 54 Ottawa schools, both elementary and secondary, receive the blue ‘emergency’ food boxes delivered on a monthly basis by 27 highly-dedicated volunteers.

Recognizing that children participate and learn best when they are not hungry, the Program provides a once-in-awhile supplement to those who arrive at school hungry or who do not have lunches. Generally, the food box supplement is a needed addition to the basic nourishment the child receives.

The May Court Emergency Food Box Program is organized and staffed exclusively by May Court members and is funded entirely by May Court’s own fundraising initiatives.

THE FACTS:

• This program celebrates its 20^th Anniversary this fall.
• Serving both the Ottawa Public and Catholic school boards, the program has grown from under 20 schools to over 50 schools.
• Beginning in September each year, snacks are delivered to the schools on a monthly basis throughout the school year.
• Twenty-seven volunteers sort the snacks for each of the schools they are responsible for, then deliver the boxes to the schools.
• The snacks are meant to serve as a supplement to the basic nourishment the child receives.