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Niagara school nutrition programs being cancelled due to funding shortfall

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Niagara Nutrition Partners said it’s been forced to pause 16 programs amid increased demand and inflation and another 30 programs are expected to close.

The group provides food to students who may otherwise go hungry in more than 200 schools across Niagara’s four school boards.

“The Niagara region has been serving 24,000 students daily – up from 17,000 last year,” said Jessica Stephenson, the program manager.

The group can’t keep up with the demand as funding from the provincial government hasn’t increased since 2014 and is now experiencing a $400,000 shortfall.

READ MORE: Students go viral after collecting cereal boxes for Fonthill food bank

A demand was made at Queen’s Park yesterday for emergency funding.

Wayne Gates, NDP MPP of Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake said students in Niagara can’t learn and thrive when they’re hungry.

“Food prices are going up, affordability is down but this is not an excuse to let children go hungry,” said Jennifer Stevens, NDP MPP of St. Catharines.

The provincial conservatives would not commit to additional funding for the program.

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