School Breakfast Program

A nutritious breakfast is the launch-pad for a full day of focused learning.

Providing students in need with a nutritious breakfast – giving them the chance to start their day ready to learn on equal footing with their peers.

With support from individual and corporate donors, volunteers, educators, the City of Ottawa, and the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, we ensure that local children and youth have the energy their growing bodies and developing brains need to succeed in school.

Fall 2021 Update: Providing nutrition, and staying safe

We’re ensuring that K-12 students can start the day ready to learn on equal footing with their peers – while also being able to follow physical distancing and other safety protocols.

“By being broadly available to all students, regardless of background, the breakfast program has helped level the playing field for our students.”

~ Ottawa School Principal, 2017

Summer Nutrition Program

This summer ONFE partnered with the Ottawa Food Bank to deliver complimentary nutritious meals to children and youth across the city, supporting them during the ongoing pandemic.

Since the School Breakfast Replacement Kit Program launched following school closures in March 2020, ONFE has served 55,681 kits – the equivalent of 1,254,697 meals – directly to neighbourhoods of kids in need.

Help feed kids by donating

FAQs about running a program

We’ve received many questions about running breakfast programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click below to view the most common logistical questions and answers.

See Frequently Asked Questions

About the Program

Need

Through no fault of their own, thousands of children and youth arrive at school hungry. This is a serious problem, because hungry students can’t learn. As food costs and food insecurity rates soar, demand for the breakfast program also grows. In the past 3 years alone, 35 schools and 1,000 breakfast participants were added to the program. There are many reasons why a student might be at risk of coming to school hungry, and one of the most important reasons is family income; in fact, 1 in 5 children in Ottawa live in poverty.

Response

This past 2020-21 school year, 10,549 meals were served in school every day that schools were open.

In addition, 15,160 School Breakfast Learn-At-Home Kits were delivered, equaling 303,200 meals delivered.

Impact

Research confirms that children and youth who eat a healthy breakfast engage more in class and perform better academically. They also have better attendance, and fewer behaviour issues. In Ottawa, 90% of principals surveyed agree that students who participate in the program appear happier and more engaged in their daily learning and activities.

The School Breakfast Program’s Impact

ONFE’s School Breakfast Program: Making a difference, one breakfast at a time.

Bring a Program to Your School

ONFE’s School Breakfast Program accepts and reviews new program applications twice a year. If you wish to apply for a breakfast or snack program, please complete the application forms linked below.

Application for a NEW School Breakfast or Snack Program

Application for a SECOND School Breakfast or Snack Program

Please note: Applications must be submitted by the School Principal.

Application Deadlines

For a September start date, applications are due by June 15th.

For a February start date, applications are due by November 26th.

Supporting Documents:

Get Tools & Resources for the School Breakfast Program

Whether your school offers a School Breakfast Program or a snack program, our School Toolkit has resources and information to help your program succeed. Available resources include budgeting advice, menu planning guidelines, healthy recipes, and more.

Popular resources for this program:

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You Can Help Students Learn

Children who eat a healthy breakfast engage more in class, perform better academically, and have fewer behaviour issues. Your donation will help provide 13,500 local children with a nutritious breakfast and the chance to start each school day on equal footing with their peers.

I Want to Donate

Volunteer with the School Breakfast Program

The School Breakfast Program is supported by dedicated volunteers that assist with a variety of essential tasks, like food preparation, breakfast service, and more. You can help us support local children and youth, one breakfast at a time.

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