Campaign by Story
With the support of thousands of volunteers, generous donors, committed partners, and dedicated staff, ONFE helps K–12 students in all school boards across Ottawa feel nourished, confident, and ready to learn. Through innovative programs that meet students where they are, we help remove barriers, create meaningful learning opportunities, and give all children and youth the chance to thrive. Our programs include:
School Breakfast Program
Over 18,000+ students are served nutritious meals and snacks through the School Breakfast Program every school day in 232 schools across Ottawa in all publicly funded school boards.
The School Breakfast Program is much more than a food service: it's a way to bring our community together. By offering meals and snacks to everyone, we send a message of welcome and inclusion. Students feel valued and supported, and this is reflected in their attitude and participation at school. It is a source of pride to contribute to a program that nourishes both the body and the heart. - École élémentaire publique Le Prélude
Classroom Gardens
Classroom Gardens brings indoor gardening into classrooms across Ottawa at no charge. Throughout the school year, and even through the cold winter months, these students are engaged learners – growing plants from seed and learning in a hands-on way about plant life-cycles, nutrition, and entrepreneurship.
Through Classroom Gardens, my students are learning so much more than how plants grow. As they care for their garden and enjoy the food they have helped nurture, they are building teamwork, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of where healthy food comes from. It is wonderful to see their pride, excitement, and curiosity grow alongside the plants. - Teacher, St. George Catholic School
Volunteers in Education
Volunteers in Education helps students build core skills, grasp new concepts, close learning gaps, and develop greater self-confidence. ONFE recruits, screens, and trains community volunteers to provide support during school and after-school hours in in-person and virtual formats.
The impact of the ONFE Volunteers in Education program at our school is nothing short of transformational. It is difficult to overstate the profound difference these dedicated individuals have made in the lives and learning journeys of our young students...because of their (the volunteers') generous commitment, we have witnessed a powerful shift: hesitation has been replaced by confidence, confusion by clarity, and struggling readers are now thriving. The volunteers have gifted our students not just with skill, but with the belief that they can succeed. We are profoundly grateful for the dedication of ONFE and their community volunteers—they truly are igniting learning in our classrooms every single day. – Teacher, Bayview Public School