CALS Breakfast Club

The Cause

The Community Association for Lasting Success (CALS) is a local, nonprofit, charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. CALS was incorporated in 1998 as a result of several community organizations meeting to identify service gaps not met by the health unit, social services, child welfare or other early childhood programs in our community. Currently, CALS provides a Head start early education program in partnership with the Vegreville Preschool Association, Family Literacy programming, the Breakfast Club school nutrition program and a summer day program for 3 - 6 year olds.

To help address food insecurity in our local elementary schools, CALS Breakfast Club has provided a mid-morning snack three days a week to over 600 children attending 3 schools/programs in Vegreville since 1998. The school snack program was developed after a survey of elementary school staff identified that approximately 15% of elementary school aged children; grades 1 – 6 were coming to school without having eaten breakfast.

Snacks are prepared and delivered by a diverse team of volunteers including recent immigrants, parents, seniors, students and special needs adults under the supervision of a 0.6 full time equivalent coordinator. 1096 volunteer hours were logged for the 2023-2024 program year.

In order that no child feels stigmatized by partaking in these programs, they are offered universally at no charge to families. Provisions are made daily for over 35 students who have identified food allergies or dietary restrictions including those required by cultural or religious beliefs.

CALS Breakfast Club improves readiness to learn by decreasing hunger as a barrier to learning. It models healthy food choices and helps to decrease disruptive classroom behaviours that are often associated with hunger. This program is solely funded by donations, corporate grants and community based fundraising initiatives.

We conduct a survey at the end of each program year and the resounding request is to expand the program so that it is offered every day.

Our IDEA is to use the Field law Community Fund to cover the costs of expanding the program to four days a week.

Who Will it Benefit?

Increased numbers of families have been moving into our community over the past 3 years seeking more affordable housing and a lower cost of living. Unfortunately, increased government support does not necessarily follow those families to rural communities. Local support agencies including the Community Association for Lasting Success have risen to the challenge by providing innovative supports such as the school snack program.

Feedback from the 2023 and 2024 year end surveys had over 50% of the teachers stating that many children in their classrooms relied on CALS Breakfast Club as a source of nutritional support. For some, it was their first meal of the day, and sometimes supplemented their lunch.

CALS Breakfast Club directly benefits over 600 children attending A. L. Horton Elementary School, St.Martin's Elementary School, and Vegreville NextStep Outreach High School program in Vegreville.