A group of local real estate brokers have partnered up to help support a school food program used by thousands of local students each day.
RE/MAX Right Move’s Donna Telford, Leanne Smith, and Roy Micks recently donated $3,000 to the Sharing Place in support of the food bank’s School Fuel program, which supplies 23 local schools with daily offerings like fruit, bagels, granola bars, and other items that meet Canada’s Food Guide.
Last year, the program supported 4,500 local students per day – a figure that Sharing Place executive director Chris Peacock expects to grow.
“There's more kids accessing the program now at schools, so as parents are really struggling to be able to afford (putting) food into lunchboxes and into school bags, being able to improve these programs really not only supports the kids, but it supports the parents,” Peacock told OrilliaMatters.
“The support … by the team at RE/MAX is a huge deal. It makes a massive difference.”
Telford, Smith, and Micks have teamed up in the past to support other charities, as well, and this is the second year they have donated to support School Fuel.
“The three of us collaborate to support important charities in the city, in the community, places that we find really need it, and we love this program,” said Telford.
With the cost of living on the rise, all three felt it was important to support the School Fuel program once again.
“We love helping the parents. It's a needed thing – it’s been needed for a long time,” said Smith. “The cost of inflation for parents right now, and their rent, we recognize all of those things. Something's got to give, and it's usually food, which is terrible.”
“Chris does a great job with the program, and all his staff, and … we all have children. It's important to us,” said Micks.
A unique program in the Simcoe Muskoka area, School Fuel is now entering its fifth year.
Costs have risen dramatically to administer the program in recent years, with last year’s $150,000 food bill representing a 70 per cent increase over the 2021-2022 school year.
“The more we can support kids in school with food, the better our community will be, the happier our parents will be,” said Peacock. “Big thanks to these guys and the team at RE/MAX to be able to continue their support for a year.”
