World Hunger Day not only shines a light on the reality of food insecurity around the world, but also celebrates the compassion, generosity, and strength of communities coming together to support neighbours in need. As we recognize World Hunger Day, we are proud to highlight a program that has been nourishing students with healthy meals, supporting learning, and growing hope for more than two decades.
Continued by The Mustard Seed after merging with Loaves and Fishes Society in 2016, the School Lunch Program has been growing hope by providing lunch to students from impoverished families who might otherwise go without in Central Alberta.
Every school day, staff and volunteers arrive at The Mustard Seed as early as 5 a.m. to prepare lunches for more than 550 students across over 50 schools. In 2025, The Mustard Seed provided 92,384 school lunches across Central Alberta. Every day of the school year, hope was growing in each student when opening their lunch bags.
“The nutrition that kids receive from our school lunch program helps to fuel their bodies and their minds. This helps them to be able to stay focused in the classroom and increases their potential to learn as they are not distracted by their hunger or by worrying when they might get to eat next,” says Laura Giesbrecht, Senior Director of Food Services.
Receiving a packed lunch filled with a sandwich, fruits, vegetables, and a sweet treat goes beyond filling hunger – it contributes to children’s success and development.
“Steady access to food supports children's overall well-being. Not only does it fuel them physically and mentally, but it also helps them to put the focus of their energy on classroom interactions and onto learning,” Laura continues.
According to Food Banks Canada, there are about 2.2 million individuals that visit food banks monthly across the country . Now more than ever, individuals rely on organizations like The Mustard Seed to provide healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals to promote overall health and well-being. In 2025, The Mustard Seed provided over 965,000 meals across Western Canada with the School Lunch Program making up 9% of this amount. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, students today have the opportunity to learn on a full stomach. To learn more about how you can give, visit TheSeed.ca/Give.
On this World Hunger Day, we hope to bring dignity, respect, and care to our community – one meal at a time.
