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New Program Tackles Hunger with Knowledge

Apr 14, 2025
2 min read

Regina Food Bank Launches Financial & Nutritional Literacy Program in Partnership with Co-operators and Agriculture in the Classroom.

The Regina Food Bank is proud to announce the launch of a new Financial & Nutritional Literacy Program, aimed at educating children on food budgeting and making healthier eating choices. This initiative is in collaboration with Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) and generously powered by Co-operators and is aimed to empower young people with essential life skills while fostering awareness of local food security issues.


Children aged 18 and under are greatly overrepresented in terms of access to food banks. In Regina, they account for 38% of clients, compared to 33% nationally. The impact of hunger on youth health and development is deeply concerning, often contributing to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and lower graduation rates.

“Nutrition plays a vital role in children's development," said John Bailey, CEO at Regina Food Bank. "By providing youth with practical knowledge about food systems, budgeting, and nutrition, we are giving them tools to create a healthier future. Our partnership with Agriculture in the Classroom creates a force multiplier, significantly expanding our impact and reaching more young people with these essential life skills. We're deeply grateful to Co-operators for their generous support of this initiative, which makes this important work possible.”

The Financial & Nutritional Literacy Program will introduce students to key concepts such as meal planning on a budget, understanding food labels, and the importance of balanced nutrition. The program follows a collaborative model involving delivery partners: AITC-SK—who provides curriculum and school connections— the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and Co-operators. The Regina Food Bank will host sessions at its Community Food Hub, creating an immersive learning experience in a real-world setting.



“Food, health, and finances are deeply connected, and it's critical that students understand how to navigate them,” said Sara Shymko, Executive Director of AITC-SK. “Through this partnership, we’re equipping students with real-life skills that help them make informed decisions about what they eat and how they spend—setting them up for lifelong well-being and resilience”.

The program’s development has been made possible through the generous support of Co operators, whose commitment to financial and social well-being aligns with the core objectives of this initiative.

“Being able to offer our support both in funding and in the delivery of financial literacy curriculum will be an inspiring and critical lift to our community,” says Paul Gobeil, Vice President, Individual Insurance & Wealth Management and Chief Actuary, Co-operators Life. “It is so important for us as a purpose-led organization to catalyze a positive change for youth in our community by empowering them with tools to overcome the challenges of food insecurity and financial instability, as well as mitigating the mental health stressors that are associated with them.”

The Financial & Nutritional Literacy program started rolling out to classrooms on March 31 and is expected to reach 1,600 students per school year.

 
 
 

100 Comments


Appreciating the Regina Food Bank for highlighting how education can help address food insecurity. Teaching students practical skills like budgeting, meal planning, nutrition, and understanding food labels can create lasting benefits for families and communities. Initiatives that connect knowledge with real-life experiences are especially valuable. This thoughtful approach shows how collaboration can empower young people for the future and beyond, including audiobook publishers.

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This is a thoughtful and useful program because it gives young people practical knowledge they can use in daily life. Learning about food budgeting, meal planning, food labels, and healthy choices can help children understand the value of both food and money. It is also good to see different community groups working together to support students. Simple lessons like these can build useful habits for the future. Even topics outside daily needs, such as using Daman Club login, can remind people how important it is to understand information before making choices.

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mynaccnt
Sep 28

The article highlights an important initiative focused on helping young people develop practical skills around nutrition, budgeting, and food security. Teaching students how to plan meals, understand food labels, and make informed food choices can provide valuable knowledge for everyday life. I also appreciate the collaborative approach, bringing together community organizations, educators, health professionals, and corporate partners to expand the program’s reach. Programs that combine education with practical experiences can make learning more meaningful and relevant. Similarly, organizations can build teamwork and identity through customized apparel. Branded sports uniforms can help organizations create a professional appearance for school teams, clubs, and community groups.

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This is such a useful idea! Helping people with food is important, but sharing simple knowledge that helps them make better choices can go a long way too. I really like how this program focuses on practical help instead of just giving advice and saying, “Good luck!” 😄 It also reminds me that learning a few useful skills can make everyday problems much easier to handle. The same is true at home, where knowing when to call for home repair services can save a small issue from turning into a much bigger headache. Great work on creating a program that gives people both support and useful knowledge!

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Lifehata
Sep 10

Ресурс lifehata.com.ua підійде тим, хто шукає практичні поради та зрозумілі пояснення різних життєвих питань. Тематика тут досить широка.

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