Feeding Futures program on track to provide lunch to 8,300 students per day by mid-2027

The district's Feeding Futures program has achieved two of its four Ministry of Education and Child Care goals and is on target to provide lunch to 8,300 students per day -- 10% of the district's student population -- by the end of the 2026-27 school year.

In less than two years, Surrey Schools’ Feeding Futures program has made significant strides in expanding to feed thousands more students each year, and is on target to provide lunch to 10% of Surrey and White Rock’s student population by the end of the 2026-27 school year.

At the January public board meeting, the Surrey Board of Education heard how the provincially funded initiative has seen an increase of more than 1,700 students receiving lunch daily, from 2,620 students in March 2024 to 4,344 students in December 2024, accounting for 5% of the district’s student population. The district has set a goal with the Ministry of Education and Child Care to provide lunch to 8,300 students daily by increasing supplier capacity and collaborating with schools and staff to improve support.

Additionally, the district has already achieved two of its four Ministry goals, with students receiving nutritionally dense food, at least 25% of which is locally sourced within B.C. The remaining goal is to deliver universal meal programs so that subsidized students are not identifiable, with universal programs currently being piloted at seven elementary schools.

“Schools and parents like the inclusion of hot meals, the universal model, ordering online and new menu items,” said Liane Ricou, Director of the Advancement Office, which oversees the district’s Feeding Futures program. “Families prefer cheaper universal meals and more menu options, both of which will be achievable with our new vendor and ordering system in fall 2025.”

Launched in 2023, Feeding Futures has provided a significant additional investment in Surrey Schools meal programs and supported the provision of meals for elementary and secondary students, families, newcomers and summer camps, among other efforts. Through the program, the district has been able to offer hot meals at 35 elementary schools since March 2024.

The Advancement Office also works with donors and partner organizations to provide food to students beyond meal programs:

• More than 1,300 students receive food on the weekend from 73 schools;
• More than 15,000 students received snacks at 124 schools courtesy of the Surrey Fire Fighters;
• 585 students at 30 schools received gift cards for food or food hampers at the beginning of Winter Break, fully funded through donations.

“I don’t think the board can honestly thank you and your organization enough,” said Terry Allen, Vice-Chair of the Surrey Board of Education. “You took this to heart along with the rest of your team and have now provided needed food to so many students. Children are not going hungry because of the work that you and your organization have done.”

Trustee Bob Holmes also thanked the Advancement Office for their work and noted the recent announcement by the federal government of Canada’s National School Food Program, a $1 billion investment to provide meals to up to 400,000 more children per year.

“There’s been a lot of advocacy around a national, universal school lunch program, which would mean that all the kids would be fed,” he said. “But when you realize it’s over five years and for the whole country, a little back-of-the-napkin math tells me it probably only adds 30-40% of what we’re already doing. It’s appreciated but it’s going to be a drop in the bucket in the end.

“But despite what’s going on with government, we really appreciate the work you do, feeding kids who really need that food so they can be at school and learn in a healthy environment.”