Our Summer Program.
Why summer?
While school food programs provide essential nutrition and support to children for 10 months of the year, the summer months leave a significant gap that negatively impacts children’s health, well-being, and future.
Our summer program bridges this gap, addressing key challenges faced by children when school is out:
Reducing Food Insecurity:
In Toronto alone, over 220,000 children face hunger during the summer, missing out on school-provided meals and snacks. Our program works to provide nutrition through meal kits and grocery gift cards, ensuring kids don’t go hungry.
Combatting Summer Learning Loss:
Students experiencing food insecurity are more vulnerable to the “summer slide,”, also known as summer learning loss where academic skills regress over the summer months. By providing nutrition, educational experiences, and engaging activities, we help maintain their learning momentum.
Alleviating Loneliness:
Loneliness rates spike among children from lower-income families during the summer. Through creating our summerlunch+ community and developing connections, we create a supportive and engaging environment to combat loneliness.
Since 2020, we’ve proudly partnered with Toronto communities including Thorncliffe Park, Chaulkfarm, Regent Park, Alexandra Park, and St. James Town. In summer 2024, we expanded our reach to Ottawa and Orangeville, bringing our impactful program to even more families.
summerlunch+ 2024 Impact.
Our evaluation surveys and interviews showed significant growth in skills and learned behaviours after our 2024 summer program.
Our program includes:
A grocery gift card or weekly bag
of ingredients needed for each week
Where kids can come together and learn with a summerlunch+ leader
Live virtual cooking classes
Weekly games and activities
to help kids learn more about the weekly theme
of kids cooking and learning together and ongoing support from the summerlunch+ team
A community
25 vegetarian and halal recipes
to prepare 3 meals or snacks each week
Cooking videos
to help kids prepare meals on their own time
Preview our program here!
Looking ahead.
From summer 2023 to summer 2024, we expanded our program through partnerships across Ontario, reaching even more children and families. Looking ahead, we aim to extend our impact further, helping to grow great kids.
Food affordability is a challenge and children thrive in healthy-eating environments. We want to continue to grow and adapt our program to meet the food, social, and health needs of children and their families looking ahead to 2025.
summerlunch+ in the Media
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CBC News 2024
The school year is coming to an end, which means some kids lose their one guaranteed meal a day. This group is hoping to fill the gaps
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Ici Toronto CBC 2023
Un programme de repas subventionnés à Toronto demande du financement à long terme
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CBC News 2023
Founder of summerlunch+ says food insecurity is often forgotten about in the summer months
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Toronto Star 2020
Thorncliffe Park residents dig in and plant their own food.
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Leaside Life 2020
Help feed our neighbours!
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University of Toronto Scarborough 2020
Standing strong in the face of adversity: how coalition members continue to adapt
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BlogTO – Urban Orchard, 2020
Someone is building a fruit tree orchard in the middle of Toronto
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Global News - 2019
Meal program feeds and educates children at Toronto summer camps
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Coalition for Healthy School Food, 2018
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NYC Food Policy 2018
Scotland Adds Lunch During School Holidays for Low-Income Students
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Humber News, 2017
Summerlunch+ helps feed hungry children during their summer break
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CBC, 2017
Toronto group providing summer meals in absence of school nutrition programs
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Toronto Star, July 2016
Program nourishes kids, body, and soul.
What Folks are Saying!
“I feel so proud every time about myself when I cook for my family especially when I make the tortillas in the pocket and lasagna soup.” — Participant, Thorncliffe Park SL+ at Home Program.
“I got to spend more time in the kitchen preparing meals with my Nana, I enjoyed the fact that my whole family was able to unite in the kitchen and make very healthy foods for the family.” — Participant, Ottawa SL+ at Home Program.
“My child really enjoyed the virtual class tonight. He loved all the recipes and is excited to see what we will be cooking next.” — Community Member, Orangeville SL+ at Home Program.