Education News, Featured, Food and Nutrition, Sponsored

Farm Boy’s New ‘nourish to flourish’ Initiative for Healthier Schools

Farm Boy’s New ‘nourish to flourish’ Initiative for Healthier Schools

This post is sponsored by Farm Boy

Originally published August 2024

Farm Boy, a leading fresh food retailer in Ontario, is thrilled to announce its new Flagship Charitable Program, nourish to flourish. This program is designed to support in-school meal programs and enhance food literacy among students by providing grants to schools throughout Ontario. With a dual focus on addressing immediate needs and advancing long-term educational goals, Farm Boy aims to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of Ontario’s youth.

These grants offer schools the flexibility to address their unique needs. Funds can be used to enhance in-school meal programs or invest in resources that support food literacy initiatives. For instance, schools might use the money to establish gardens or organize educational visits to local farms. The aim is to equip schools with the tools necessary to improve their food programs and promote a better understanding of healthy eating among students.

The nourish to flourish program is being rolled out in collaboration with Sustain Ontario and Farm to Cafeteria Canada. These organizations will assist in managing the grant application process, promoting the program, and providing support to the schools that receive funding. Shawn Linton, President and General Manager at Farm Boy, underscores the importance of this initiative: “We believe in the power of nutritious and wholesome food to fuel healthy communities. nourish to flourish—our Flagship Charitable Program—is designed to positively impact Ontario, encouraging schools to strengthen their meal programs and inspire students to adopt healthy eating habits.”

Grant applications will open on September 9, 2024. Sustain Ontario and Farm to Cafeteria Canada will oversee the application process, offering guidance and ensuring the funds reach the schools that will benefit the most. In total, for the inaugural year of the program, $55,000 will be distributed to 30 schools across Ontario, with grants ranging from $500 to $3,000.

The nourish to flourish program highlights Farm Boy’s commitment to enhancing student health and education. By providing essential financial support and fostering food literacy initiatives, this initiative aims to improve in-school meal programs and cultivate a deeper understanding of food systems among students. It represents both an investment in addressing immediate needs and a step towards long-term educational and health benefits.

The nourish to flourish program includes a point-of-sale fundraising campaign running in Farm Boy stores now until August 15. During this time, customers can make direct contributions at checkout to support the program. Farm Boy will match these donations, up to $25,000.

Through nourish to flourish, Farm Boy showcases its dedication to community support and its belief in the transformative power of good food. This program offers a significant opportunity for schools to enhance their meal programs and inspire students to embrace healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. For more information about the nourish to flourish initiative and to apply for grants, visit farmboy.ca/nourishtoflourish.