Sault breakfast program sees record numbers
Sault Ste. Marie’s summer breakfast program is seeing record numbers of students.
Algoma Family Services, one of the agencies behind 'Every Breakfast Counts,' said the program distributed thousands of meals during the summer.
The goal is to provide students with nutritious meals throughout the summer, in place of breakfast programs offered during the school year.
“We did this program over eight weeks, starting in July into mid-August," said Emily Tremblay of Algoma Family Services
"We served about 8,500 meals, so 1,066 a week approximately. We started off a little lower -- we were aiming at 850 a week. So, we increased the number of production and luckily we were able to do that with the help of our volunteers at Harvest Algoma.”
Meals are distributed by Harvest Algoma, with officials there saying volunteers were putting in upwards of 200 hours a week combined.
However, the group suffered a setback this week.
“We went to start our big utility van -- really our only transport van -- and someone had cut our catalytic converter," said Deron Barlow of Harvest Algoma.
The fuel line was also cut, Barlow said, preventing them from doing any deliveries or pickups in the city.
He said it would be at least a couple of weeks before their vehicle will be in service again, a delay that will affect many people.
“Anybody who decides to do that, your few hundred dollars that you’re getting for it … maybe think about the costs of the people that are affected by the decision you’re making," Barlow said.
"You get a few hundred dollars, but then, a few thousand people in the Sault are out meals for a week or two.”
Meantime, Algoma Family Services is organizing a 50/50 draw to raise money for the next Every Breakfast Counts summer program.
Tickets can be purchased at city hall or at the Algoma Family Services office.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.