It’s a welcoming space and has increased options for students as well as accessibility.”“
Three local organizations have enhanced their nutrition programs through support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s School Food Infrastructure Fund. United Way Elgin Middlesex partnered with United Way East Ontario to administer the program locally, helping schools and community partners improve access to healthy food for children and families.
In Aylmer, the Corner Cupboard Food Bank upgraded East Elgin Secondary School’s “Nutrition Program Kitchen” which serves approximately 1,000 students from diverse rural communities with limited access to transportation. Prior to the grant, food storage was fragmented across four separate areas, and the kitchen lacked even a basic sink, creating significant barriers to safe and efficient meal preparation.
Today, the upgraded facility has transformed the school’s ability to provide nutritious meals and operate a take-home food pantry for students and families most in need. The new space is not only functional but welcoming, expanding both food options and accessibility. “It’s a welcoming space and has increased options for students as well as accessibility.”
Type Diabeat It used its grant to expand a 1.5-acre farm and commercial kitchen that grows and distributes culturally relevant, nutritious produce to African, Caribbean, and Black youth through the Thames Valley District School Board. The project pairs meal delivery with in-school food literacy education, addressing increased rates of food insecurity and Type 2 diabetes risk in marginalized communities.
South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre (SLNRC) completed a full refurbishment of the 40-year-old kitchen at the Westminster Centre — a community hub in a designated food desert that serves 50 children daily through a breakfast program. Located between two nearby schools, the off-site space is a welcoming, friendly environment for kids and parents alike. The renovated kitchen features a modernized layout, improved storage, and enhanced food preparation capacity.
In total, United Way Elgin Middlesex administered $138,000 in funding. Together, these investments are making a meaningful and tangible difference in the lives of some of our community’s most vulnerable children and families.
