During a provincewide teachers strike in Alberta, several non-profit organizations have expressed concerns about children going hungry as thousands of them have lost access to school food programs. The strike has now reached its eighth day.

Jared Jorstad, a spokesperson for Hope Mission, shared a story of a mother who sacrificed her meals for her kids during the strike. He mentioned that the high cost of living makes school food programs crucial for families on fixed incomes.

With 51,000 teachers on strike since October 6, approximately 750,000 students are currently out of classes, leading to the closure of around 2,500 schools and their associated cafeterias offering free meals.

Hope Mission, in collaboration with five Catholic schools in Edmonton, has been distributing paper bag lunches to students in need. Around 200 to 250 students have been benefiting from this initiative daily.

The ongoing strike by the Alberta Teachers’ Association is the largest in the province’s history. Key issues in the contract dispute include wages, overcrowded classrooms, and support for students with complex needs.

Despite a rejected government offer of a 12 per cent pay raise over four years and the promise of hiring 3,000 more teachers, the strike continues to impact students’ access to meals. Non-profit organizations like the Mustard Seed are struggling to provide enough lunches to fill the gap left by the school closures.

Laura Giesbrecht, a spokesperson for the Mustard Seed, expressed deep concern about students missing meals and emphasized the importance of proper nutrition for their well-being and educational success.

Various organizations, including the Breakfast Club of Canada, are hopeful for a quick resolution between the teachers and the government to ensure that students can access essential meal programs without interruption.