N.B. mom hopes to ease food insecurity for kids learning from home
Global News
Amanda Rouse wanted to help the hundreds of kids in the valley who won't benefit from regular food programs when schools across the province shift to online learning on Jan. 11.
Kennebecasis Valley might not have the child poverty levels of Saint John, but a Quispamsis mom says families there are struggling, especially when students begin learning online with no access to school food programs.
As a volunteer and someone who takes a hands-on approach in the community, Amanda Rouse said she wanted to help the hundreds of kids in the valley who won’t benefit from regular food programs when schools across the province shift to online learning on Jan. 11.
Students were originally supposed to head back to the classroom on Jan. 10, but with spiking COVID-19 case counts as Omicron became the dominant variant in New Brunswick last week, the province announced they would learn from home for two weeks.
To help cope with the upheaval caused by the change, Rouse launched a Facebook group called Kennebecasis Cares at the end of December. The aim is to collect non-perishables to give to families in need.
“There’s a bit of a stereotype of people who live in the valley that everyone’s got it all together and everyone in the valley is really well off and that’s just not the case,” she said. “Without the schools being there to provide some nutritious daily lunch and breakfast programs, they’re going to be struggling.”
The donated food will be distributed by members of the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force, who, Rouse said have “their finger on the pulse of where our biggest needs are in the community.”
Those looking to help can contact her via the Facebook page. Rouse is still looking for more canned meats, mayo, butter, peanut butter, jam, mustard, lunch snacks (crackers and cookies), juice boxes, pasta, canned soups and cereal.
“I hope that people realize that everybody has the opportunity to make somebody’s life a little bit better every day,” she said. “I think it’s important that we take care of each other.”