Thank you Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown and Burns Memorial Fund!
This school year Calgary Meals on Wheels is serving more students than ever before within our four Student Programs. Each week, we deliver nutritious meals to over 3100 students across the city. This fall, we welcomed 5 new schools to our programs and even began delivering meals to students in Okotoks.
With this growth, new requirements were needed to accommodate delivery. This was made possible by the generosity of two amazing groups, The Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown and Burns Memorial Fund. Each group generously donated to Calgary Meals on Wheels for the essential purchase of a new delivery van equipped with refrigeration, specifically designated to deliver nutritious meals to the Student Programs. This is the first refrigeration van that we have purchased and it will help us extend our delivery times to meet the needs of our expanding city and beyond.
The Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown has a history of supporting Calgary Meals on Wheels with a recent focus on our school programs. They are an organization of business, professional, and community leaders who come together through commitment and fellowship to create opportunities and a better future for generations who follow. They are proud to have been giving back to the Calgary community for over 100 years.
“An astonishing number of Calgary kids go to school without breakfast. We have been told by educators that hungry kids don't learn well and can't focus as needed. Two years ago, Meals on Wheels came to us for support for their food programs which they deliver directly to schools in need we responded in order to keep this critical program going." - Rotarian, member of the donations committee.
Burns Memorial Fund has also supported our student programs and continue their support with partial funding for the purchase of our new cargo van. Burns Memorial Fund works to meet the health, education and recreation needs of Calgary’s children and youth through administering its own programs to provide financial assistance to children, youth, and their families; allocating grants to Calgary-based charities working with vulnerable children and youth; and participating in community-wide collaborations intended to address the systemic issues which negatively impact low-income individuals.
“We are pleased to assist with the purchase of the new van in order to help Meals on Wheels meet increased demand for nutritious meals and snacks for vulnerable children and youth. We recognize the important role proper nutrition plays in supporting students’ health and learning.” - Portia Yip, Burns Memorial Fund.
On behalf of our students, our staff, and our volunteers – we extend our most sincere gratitude to both the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown and Burns Memorial Fund. Thank you for helping us deliver nutritious meals and snacks to Calgary’s students! Together, we can ensure that these students are supported in their growth, development, and health!