School Meal Program: Year One Review
- Diane Mitchell
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Almost a year ago, we embarked on an ambitious project—to launch a commercial kitchen and provide meals to Squamish schools that deliver healthy, nutritious lunches to hundreds of students daily on a pay what you can program. As an organization that had never operated a kitchen before, we knew the stakes were high and that it would be a steep learning curve! Now that we are one school year in, what’s the verdict been?
In short, the verdict is that it has been a resounding success with some lessons learned. Take a look at some of our stats…
And not only did we provide catering to the schools, we also built a relationship with the Squamish 55+ Community, catering to many of their monthly programs and providing daily snack and lunch service.
Beyond these impressive stats though, what can we share?
More than Food Preparation
Our 55 Kitchen reminds Executive Director Krystle tenBrink of a story she heard from Indigenous chef and educator Jared Qwustenuxun Williams. In his story, he spoke of a teaching from an Elder about only serving food when it was made with good feelings.
That story stuck with Krystle as she recognizes that “food is never just food. Food nourishes our bodies, but it is also care, culture, connection, comfort, and belonging. It carries the intention of the people who prepare it, and it has the power to bring people together.”
It is with those intentions that we run the 55 Kitchen, the school meal program and our catering for the 55+ community. Partners, supporters, teachers, volunteers, community members and students are all part of this collective journey to improve food security and access to locally sourced and locally prepared food in our community.
Behind every one of our stats is food that is grown, meals prepared with care, relationships built, and a community coming together to support one another. This program represents children arriving in class ready to learn, seniors and community members gathering around food, volunteers giving their time, and partners coming together around a shared belief that everyone deserves access to nutritious food and a sense of belonging.
We Couldn’t Do this Program Without...
Our appreciation goes to the District of Squamish and School District 48. This is a true partnership where we have travelled the highs and lows, problem solved and envisioned growth for the future of the program. We also acknowledge the 55+ Community Society who have included us and made us feel welcomed into the space.
We could not have undertaken this venture without the generous financial and in-kind contributions from community, provincial, and national partners, including Mazon Canada, the Vancouver Sun Children's Fund, Breakfast Club of Canada, the JBS Foundation, the Province of British Columbia, the District of Squamish, Squamish Lillooet Regional District, Gescan, private donations and many others who believe in the importance of nourishing our community.
And last but certainly not least, we couldn’t do this program without our Kitchen A Team. These are the staff who arrive early, prepare ingredients, bake, cook, package meals, wash dishes, solve problems, deliver meals and put care into every meal that leaves this kitchen. In this team we have Sarah, Shane, Mark, Ruby, and Marie-Eve, led by our Head Chef, Michael Staveley, along with our dedicated volunteers, including Janice and Judith, and all those who have generously shared their time and talents to support this work.
What’s Next for the Program?
Our kitchen team is taking a much deserved break this July, and there won’t be any food service in the 55 Centre during this time. But come August, they’ll be ramping up again for a new school year and examining how to enhance the program and its delivery of this highly popular food service to local schools. Watch this space as we continue to grow …..
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