Langley firefighters provide healthy snacks for student tummies

The Township of Langley Firefighters’ Charities Society is getting into snacking in a big way but not for themselves. They are helping kids get nutritious snacks.

Without adequate nutrition, kids may have a hard time staying focused in school.

The firefighter society is supporting the Food For Thought Campaign of the Langley School District Foundation.

“The Langley School District Foundation is so grateful for our partnership with the Township of Langley Firefighters’ Charities Society,” noted foundation executive director Susan Cairns.

“With more than 3,000 students coming to school hungry every day, the fact that individuals, corporations, and associations are helping us out is so appreciated. You can’t imagine what it means to our students, parents, and teachers to know that kids that need help are being looked after.”

Jhim Burwell, representative with the Township of Langley Firefighters’ Charities Society, commented that the society’s ability to support kids is a team effort.

“Save-On-Foods and Valley Traffic are huge partners,” he noted. “Without them it really wouldn’t have gotten rolling.”

The snack portion of the Food for Thought campaign kicked off this month at Wix Brown and Parkside Elementary Schools.

“It’s a pilot project with Wix Brown and Parkside,” said Burwell. “Hopefully we will roll it out to all the Langley schools in the next few years.”

Cairns noted the snacks include healthy granola bars, frozen yogurt sticks, fruit, and juice once or twice a week.

“They are healthy snacks that are good for you,” she said. “They [the kids] need some energy, especially when they come to school hungry.”

A fire truck load of the nutritious snacks were delivered to both schools on Wednesday to kick-off the program.

There will be a consistent supply of healthy snacks for the students of the schools.

“It’s part of a long term vision,” Burwell noted. “We have a vision of a wider health and wellness program that includes components where firefighters take part in intramural sports and reading activities, or providing educational resources like computers. It will be a fairly comprehensive program in the long term.”

“They wanted to take that portion [the snack aspect] of the Food for Thought program on for themselves,” Cairn said of the firefighters’ involvement.

“The whole Food for Thought Campaign encompasses breakfast, lunch, and snacks. There are lots of other people involved in the whole Food for Thought Campaign.”

The firefighter charity society has planned some fundraisers planned to provide financing for the food program.

Casino Night is Nov. 21 at the Langley Events Centre.

Tickets ($60 per person) and information are available through charitable@iaff4550.org.

A clothing drive runs until Dec. 12. Parents, teachers, administrators and students are asked to bring gently used clothing to their schools, the Langley School Board office in Murrayville, or at the Murrayville, Aldergrove, Willoughby and Walnut Grove firehalls.