Ron Joyce Centre’s food drive to help Burlington youth

Students, faculty and staff at McMaster's Ron Joyce Centre (RJC) in Burlington have been
doing their part to drive youth hunger out of the community with a food drive in
support of Halton Food For Thought.

Running since May 16, the Centre has partnered with the United Way of Burlington &
Greater Hamilton to collect food that will go to youth in need during the summer when
they do not have access to nutrition programs at school.

“Every donation to the United Way is significant because we are the largest funder of
social and health support programs in our community,” said Miriam Gracey, campaign
manager for the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton. “Our programs support
individuals and families across all socio-economic demographics. The programs move
people from poverty to possibility, ensure healthy people, strong communities and
ensure that children are all that kids can be.”

Halton Food For Thought, a United Way agency, provides nutrition programs to
schools
in Burlington and the Halton Region. It manages 63 breakfast, healthy snack, and
emergency lunch programs, working to promote the connection between healthy food
choices and improved learning.

“When children have enough to eat and eat the proper foods, a whole new world opens
up. Well-nourished children can concentrate better in class and be successful in school,”
said Lena Bassford, manager of community relations at Halton Food For Thought. “A
good education is one of the best ways to break the cycle of poverty. Children who eat
the right kinds of food on a regular basis also have fewer health problems, are better
able to fight off infection, and have a better chance of a healthy development both
physically and emotionally. Good nutrition habits at an early age are critical to
preventing obesity and other detrimental health problems.”

Each day, one in ten children in the Halton Region goes to school without any food.
Faculty, staff and students at the RJC hope their donations will be able to provide youth
struggling with hunger with food for the summer months.

Dave Mammoliti, program manager of Executive Education at the Ron Joyce Centre, is
helping to organize the food drive and is pleased to see great enthusiasm and
participation in the initiative.

“We think it is important to be connected to the community where we work and go to
school. Youth hunger is a significant issue in this community and we want to support
the great work being done by Halton Food For Thought and the United Way. Together,
we can make a difference,” he said.