Feed the Meter returns to provide meals for Hastings and Prince Edward schoolkids

Parking is free in downtown Belleville, Trenton and Picton this holiday season, but everyone is encouraged to donate to Food for Learning by inserting coins into the parking meters. Photo by Emilie Quesnel, QNet News

By Emilie Quesnel

BELLEVILLE – The Feed the Meter campaign, which raises money for food nutrition programs, is back in Hastings and Prince Edward counties for the month of December.

The campaign has run throughout each holiday season for the last seven years.

Parking is free for December in Belleville, Trenton and Picton in order to encourage residents to shop locally. However, each parking meter is open and bears a sign urging people to donate some change for Food for Learning, which provides nutritious food for children in schools throughout Hastings and Prince Edward counties.  The program includes healthy options for breakfast, snack and lunch throughout the school year.

“I think it’s wonderful for the kids and it really helps out … I’m so glad they started it,” said Tanya Gill, whose daughter goes to school in Belleville and helps out with the daily breakfast program.

Maribeth deSnoo, the executive director of Food for Learning, says she came up with the idea for Feed the Meter seven years ago when the organization was interested in launching a new campaign.

“We were looking for something different, a campaign that we could make our mark with … it’s something that’s unique,” she said.

Hastings and Prince Edward counties have the second-highest rate of food insecurity in the province, according to the Hastings and Prince Edward Board of Public Health. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of stable access to food that is both healthy and cost effective.

Thanks to Food for Learning, there are now 176 breakfast, lunch and snack programs at schools throughout these counties.

Countless studies indicate that a proper diet can greatly affect the way children learn and how well they focus in class.

“Regardless of why students are coming to school without food, in order for learning to take place they need to be fed,” said deSnoo.

During the campaign’s first year, in 2008, $6,000 was raised. Last year the campaign brought in more than $25,000, which means donations have quadrupled in seven years.

The organization was just shy of its $30,000 goal last year; that goal remains the same for this year. The team is hopeful that it will meet the goal, deSnoo said. “It takes a while to catch on … the campaign has gotten stronger every year. Look at us now!”

According to deSnoo, the mild weather this area has been experiencing is extremely beneficial for the campaign.

“The weather can’t help but impact people going out and shopping. We’re really encouraged with it so far. Hopefully it will continue,” she said.

Erika Hope was shopping in downtown Belleville Thursday when QNet News visited to report on the campaign. She said she is very familiar with Feed the Meter and thrilled that it is doing so well.

Hope’s sister is a kindergarten teacher in Belleville, and she said several students in her class rely on the breakfast program provided by Food for Learning.

“This is a great campaign and I support it every year,” she said.

DeSnoo said that the organization expects to serve at least a million meals and snacks to approximately 15,000 students this year.

She encourages people to donate to the cause, and insists that every little bit helps.

“It makes a tremendous difference,” she said.