.png)
For many children, the last day of school marks the beginning of summer adventures, more time outdoors, and a welcome change of routine. But for families who rely on school nutrition programs, summer can also bring an added challenge: keeping nutritious food on the table when an important source is no longer available.
The Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington is helping bridge that gap through its Summer Snax program, with support from a 2026 Kindred Charitable Fund grant.
“This program helps fill the gap that happens when schools close for the summer, and kids who rely on school nutrition programs lose access to them,” says Ali Kane-Decaire, Coordinator of Community Engagement and Fund Development at the Community Resource Centre.
Summer Snax provides additional food support to 460 children and youth during July and August, helping ensure summer break doesn’t mean a break from nutritious food. Families receive two hampers throughout the summer, filled with shelf-stable snacks and fresh produce, along with grocery gift cards. The program follows the same nutrition guidelines used by in-school nutrition programs.
The need Summer Snax addresses is part of a broader challenge facing communities across Ontario. Rising food and living costs continue to put pressure on household budgets, making community-based food programs an important resource for many families. For Kindred, supporting Summer Snax reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable food security in the communities we serve.
Food insecurity doesn’t affect only those without employment. Half of the families participating in Summer Snax have employment income, and 25% of those families have two working parents, a reminder of the pressures that rising costs can place on household budgets.
The Community Resource Centre has been serving individuals and families in North and Centre Wellington for many years. Its programs offer practical assistance to people experiencing food insecurity and financial challenges while creating opportunities for connection, dignity, and greater stability.
In addition to Summer Snax, the Centre offers a range of resources, including community outreach and support services, licensed childcare, and EarlyON Child and Family Centres. Together, these programs respond to immediate needs while contributing to the wellbeing of the wider community.
For many families participating in Summer Snax, rural living can create an additional challenge: transportation. Volunteers organize and distribute food from a central location in Fergus, and hampers can be delivered when families are unable to access transportation.
Summer should be a time when children can learn, play, grow, and simply enjoy being kids. By helping families provide nutritious food throughout the summer months, the Community Resource Centre is helping make that possible - one snack, one family, and one caring connection at a time.