On June 18, 2026, Nutrition for Learning hosted a Day of Belonging event at Steckle Heritage Farm where Jess Dixon, MPP of Kitchener South-Hespeler, announced their Food for All model for the 2026-2027 school year.
This model will provide a free weekly lunch to all students regardless of their financial situation.
Nutrition for Learning is a local non-profit organization that works to provide food for students that may lack access. Nutrition for Learning aims to provide food for students for their health as well as their academic success.
The organization was started in 1997 and over the years, Nutrition for Learning has grown to provide approximately two million lunches for local children per year.
Nutrition for Learning is aiming to adjust their model to provide food not only for students in need but for all students. They believe that food is not only important for growth and learning but can also be used to foster community.
Steckle Heritage Farm at 811 Bleams Rd., Kitchener is a non-profit urban farm and heritage site that hosts school trips, summer camps, events and community tours.
The barn hosted activities for children such as a dance class by Legends Academy of the Performing Arts and a painting activity by Grand River Pride Fest. There were also samples of local foods such as pizza, a charcuterie board and parfaits with local strawberries.
Nutrition for Learning is able to expand their program in this way due to a new Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $596,700 across three years.
The organization hopes to provide food to local children not merely as a stop-gap measure or a band-aid but as a concentrated effort to foster community and bring nutritious food to all children.
For more information, visit nutritionforlearning.ca.
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