Summer Eats for Kids & Backpacks for Success

Families living in low-income struggle to make ends meet, and often cannot afford to provide some of the basics – including food and school supplies. This can become even more of a challenge for families over the summer months when school nutrition programs are closed.

Children and youth need access to healthy food in the summer months, and school supplies for the year ahead to be successful. Supporting children and families over the summer months with access to fresh and healthy food, and providing them with school supplies for September removes some of the many barriers that these families encounter on a daily basis.

Overview of Summer Programs

United Way's Summer Programs include two innovative strategies that support children throughout the summer months, and help to prepare them for their upcoming school year.

The Summer Eats for Kids program provides children and families in Windsor-Essex County with a week’s worth of nutritious snacks, fresh fruits, and vegetables. The program is provided at six school locations across the community, where families can come to receive a food bag. In addition to this weekly support, the program provides 550 lunches per day during the first three weeks of July to students participating in the Greater Essex County District School Board’s ‘Camp Wonder’ program.

The Backpacks for Success program provides students in need in kindergarten through grade 12 throughout Windsor-Essex County with backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies they need for school. Providing kids with back-to-school supplies increases classroom participation, attendance, and student morale.