Breakfast bag program helps some Holland College students

The Holland College Student Union has launched a bagged breakfast program for its students across P.E.I.

The brown bags contain healthy snacks such as juice boxes, fruit and yogurt. They are available to students every weekday morning.

The general manager of the student union, Greg Gairns, said the need for the program became apparent when the student union noticed an increase in the number of students using the campus food bank. 

He said the program was kick-started this fall by a $5,000 donation from the P.E.I. Credit Unions.

"So we didn't want students to feel embarrassed by going to get them either, so basically we have a location at the five campuses and the students all know about i," said Gairns. "And we basically just do up a certain number for each campus every morning and at 8:30 in the morning the bags are out on a table and the students can help themselves to one each.

"It is very popular. Students are almost waiting for them every day. You know our students need it just as much as anyone else, so we thought it would be a great pilot project this year and it has been going quite successfully." 

The student union buys the food and student volunteers put the breakfasts together.

Gairns said about 100 bags are distributed each day and students really seem to appreciate the effort, especially at this time of year.