The Summer Snack Program originated in 1988 when two teachers realized that although children had access to lunch programs during the school year, they did not have access to this critical service during the summer months. They approached the Saskatoon and District Labour Council (SDLC) with this concern and the Summer Snack Program was born. The Program’s aim is to provide healthy lunches to children who might otherwise go hungry.

The SDLC Summer Snack Program has grown over the years and is currently providing lunches at six core neighbourhood parks as well as Agriculture in the Classroom Program sites.

Each summer the SDLC hires staff to coordinate, prepare, deliver and serve lunches, 7 days a week, during July and August. Although the program is geared towards children, an increasing numbers of adults also access the program. No one is turned away.

A typical lunch consists of a whole-wheat sandwich, fruit, vegetables, milk, fruit juice, cheddar cheese and a yogurt tube. Children and adults alike are impressed with the wide variety of fruit and vegetables – many have never even seen some of the choices offered. The Coordinators also bake to provide a tasty afternoon snack for the children a couple of times a week.

Often is it more than bringing lunch – the kids look forward to the friendship, leadership and stability that the coordinators provide. Strong bonds form and the children learn positive life habits such as recycling and reusing materials.

The Summer Snack Program has a strong environmental component: the program uses paper supplies; children reuse their cups if they want a drink refill; and the coordinators use reusable cloth grocery bags to transport fruit and vegetables.

SDLC Summer Snack Program is a registered charitable organization with the Canada Revenue Agency. The Program’s success and sustainability is due in large part to the generous financial donations from the SDLC affiliated unions and some non-affiliated unions.

Over the past few years, the SDLC has received an annual grant through the Saskatoon Collaborative Funding Partnership. The City of Saskatoon and United Way of Saskatoon and Area sit at this table and both organizations have provided these additional resources which have significantly helped in expanding the program.

This program continues to receive significant in-kind donations from local businesses and organizations. Summer Snack supports unionized grocery stores when supplies need to be purchased. The program also relies on volunteers who donate their time to help prepare and serve lunches.