Grub Tub

Doris Thomas, John Thomas, Nina Wyrostok, Glen Zahara, Cliff Reed, Arden White
with a $1000 donation to the Grub Tub program.

When most of us are hungry we get out of our comfortable easy chairs and go to the fridge knowing that it is usually stocked with a choice selection of snacks or meals. If it doesn’t seem to fit our palate at the moment, we hop in the car and go to a store, restaurant or fast food outlet and purchase the food we want. 
    For others it’s a different world. They live day-to-day not knowing when and where their next meal is coming from. Many depend on agencies such as the Food Bank or organizations such as N.O.W for food handouts. 
Linda Ortlauf of the Salvation Army can cite hundreds of examples and reasons of why people depend on the Food Bank. Although she concedes some of those need is because of addictions but is quick to point out, “I have seen many examples of people who do not have a choice. Both parents had lost their jobs, they had no money and the kids were hungry. There are students trying to make ends meet and just run out of money. 

Children do not get a breakfast and have to go to school and have a difficult time concentrating on learning.” The stories go on but whatever the reason, there are people who desperately need compassionate help. Half of households receiving food are families with children. Reports show that children and seniors are especially vulnerable. 
Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools recognizes the problem 
    Acknowledging there is a problem, the Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools (WRPS) started a  voluntary program called Grub Tub.  Whenever staff from WRPS come together in groups for Professional Development or special events, they are invited to participate by bringing an item of nourishing food to donate to the program. The food is used to assist the schools by offering nourishing food to hungry students. Thus far, Grub Tub donations have served hundreds of hungry students. 
    WRPS reports, “Children who come to school hungry have difficulty in concentration and have lower levels of energy to participate in the rigors of school. Research is clear: hungry children are compromised in their learning.”
    There isn’t enough money for food for many families
Wendy Davis, MSc, REAL Kids Alberta Coordinator reported some startling stats from a recent survey. “Among Albertan households with grade 5 children, 8% of parents reported that they ate less than they felt they should because there wasn’t enough money to buy food in 2012. Fewer parents (4%) reported that they were ever hungry but didn’t eat because there wasn’t enough money to buy food.”
Wetaskiwin double provincial average of food shortage in homes
    However, as Nina Wyrostok, PhD., R. Psych Director of Support Services Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools recently pointed out, “Wetaskiwin parents are reporting significantly higher rates of problems with food security (availability) than their provincial counterparts. The number of parents reporting problems getting food into the house is double in Wetaskiwin comparing our School Division to others right across the province. Every school on its own is trying to do creative and innovative things to find ways of getting food to their students. Some of them have community partners, some have grants and some have programs such as the blue jean Friday where teachers are permitted to wear blue jeans in exchange for a food donation.”
The Wetaskiwin Lions roared into the Grub Tub program. 
     “Corinne Denham who was a staff member of Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools and a member of the Lions Club brought it (the need for food donations) forward to the club” explained Lions President, Cliff Reed. “We were the first organization in Wetaskiwin to take it on. At first we would take a big tub to our meetings, fill it with food and bring it here (WRPS Central Office) the next day. We were involved with that program for a year and a half and now we are presenting cheque for $1000 today.”  Nina is especially appreciative of a cash donation. “WRPS finds a cash donation more manageable than actual food as each of the schools has a different capacity for handling food and are best suited to specific food items.” WRPS conducts a needs assessment and distributes the money to each of the 17 schools based on need.
    “Children cannot be expected to have the resources or means to feed themselves if their families are not in a position to do so. Being responsible community citizens requires that we all share in looking after the well-being of one another and in particular, those who are most vulnerable: children and seniors. “It takes a village to raise a child” (traditional African proverb) is more than a cliché. It is a reality.”
    Following a grateful ‘thank you’ to each of the Lions Club members, Nina concluded by saying, “I believe the community of Wetaskiwin and surrounding area is genuinely caring about the families and children and we appreciate their help”. 
    If you would like more information or to make a donation contact Nina at WyrostokN@wrps.ab.ca