The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise has support School nutrition programs since it's incorporation in 1992. In fact, our Past President Carrie Zeffiro in those early years started the first Breakfast Program at one of the City of Niagara Falls Schools. The initiative has grown to a Regional program in the Niagara Nutrition Partnership. We are so pleased to once again present to the NNP's program Manager Jessica Stephenson our annual contribution of $7,500.
Jessica's talk is attached for all to read, (Click Here)
She presented the attached video for you to see what NNP does to make the difference in a childs life.
But we ask that you consider the following facts concerning the Present day Niagara Nutrition Partnership (NPP):
- NNP feeds 24,000 children nutritious breakfast, lunch and/or snack programs daily
- This is in 211 schools, with 45 programs in Niagara Falls alone
- This with a growing school population in Niagara Falls
- They need 1000 volunteers to do this
- All with a small staff of 6 dedicated people
- On average it cost $2.50 per child
- Ontario’s Provincial funding boils down to 10¢ per child per day
- The national Provincial average is 39¢ per child per day
- Federl funding has been initiated a 3 year program for $18.5 million for the entire country.
- NNP will hope to receive $465,000 but has not seen any of this yet leaving a funding gap of $5.4 million
- The National program has left all supporters of NNP asking if they are now fully funded, when it really is so farther from the truth.
- Poverty does not have a neighbourhood.
- These programs work; schools report:
- Less absenteeism
- Higher Graduation rates
- Better problem-solving skills
- More conflict resolutions and
- Better class participation