Growing Food Literacy and a Snack Program at Geraldton Composite High School
Posted: August 10, 2025
Categories: nourish to flourish / Schools
Geraldton Composite High School
Geraldton, Ontario
We are a small secondary school located in Northwestern Ontario with approximately 175 students. Many students commute over an hour from surrounding communities, including several First Nation reserves.
This grant has helped to expand our existing grab and go snack program. We used the funding to purchase a small refrigerator and several other items. The refrigerator allows students to access more fresh snacks such as fruit, yogurt, and cheese throughout the day.
The goal of this project is for students in the Food and Healthy Living course to plan, prepare, and stock snacks as part of their coursework. This hands-on approach promotes food literacy and encourages the development of real life skills including meal planning, food safety, and food preparation. It also aims to foster a sense of community and responsibility within the school, while allowing students to support themselves and their peers.
The snack program is now better equipped to meet the needs of our students. It offers a greater variety of healthy options and helps to reduce food waste. Operated through our main office and supported by our kind and welcoming secretaries, the program is available to all students without stigma or barriers to access.
A teacher involved in the program shared, “the grant will positively impact students for years to come, and it will allow students to engage within their own school community and have access to fresh snacks.”
The response from the school community has been overwhelmingly positive. Students appreciate the availability of healthy snacks, and the additional refrigerator and the increased variety it brings is a significant benefit. As a result, students have the nourishment they need to stay focused and succeed throughout the day.
This grant will have a lasting impact on our school by strengthening our grab and go snack program. As a school, we are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing this work in the future.