Newburgh-Camden Lions Club donates $6,500 to The Food Sharing Project
The Newburgh-Camden Lions Club has made a generous $6,500 donation to The Food Sharing Project to support access to nutritious food at school.
According to a release from the Food Sharing Project, this is the second gift from the community service organization this year to support access to healthy food at school.
“Along with a donation of $6,000 back in April, these two donations will support a year of fresh, healthy food being provided to Centreville and Newburgh Public Schools,” said Andy Mills, Executive Director of The Food Sharing Project.
Mills was joined by Lions Club members, staff, and students at Centreville Public School on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, to receive the donation, as pictured above.
The Food Sharing Project is a charity, which provides nutritious food to schools for in-school meals and snacks. According to the release, each week, over $20,000 of food is delivered to the doors of 88 schools across Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington, at no charge to the schools. The food provided meets nutritional standards and is used by school staff and community volunteers to prepare and serve healthy meals and snacks to any student who needs nutrition, no questions asked.
“Young people are our future, and it is important that we give them all the tools they need to succeed,” said Newburgh-Camden Lions Club Past-President Vic Smith, “and healthy food is the most basic thing they need to get through the day, and do well at school, and beyond.”
The Newburgh-Camden Lions Club is a small rural chapter of the international organization that runs activities and raises funds to improve well-being and strengthen communities. According to the release, the money raised was earmarked for the food programs at Newburgh and Centreville Public Schools, which operate within the chapter’s jurisdiction.
Peter Mouncey, Principal at Centreville and Newburgh Public Schools, applauded this three-way partnership between his schools, the Food Sharing Project, and the Newburgh-Camden chapter of the Lions Club.
“Having their daily nutritional needs met means that students have healthy bodies and active minds,” Mouncey said.
Through generous donations from individuals and community groups, the organization of staff at The Food Sharing Project, and the volunteer efforts of students and staff members at the schools, students benefit every day from healthy snacks, the charitable organization explained.
“Research and our school educators tell us that students who eat nutritious food at school are more engaged in their learning, can focus better on tasks and can have more positive social interactions throughout the day,” stated Mills. “This generous locally focused contribution goes a long way to help us provide healthy food to schools.”
For more information about The Food Sharing Project, or to make a donation, visit their website at: www.foodsharingproject.org