The collective fundraising group 100 Women Who Care has donated an amazing $7050 for the Rocky View School program, Food for Thought.

Nikki Demyen, Food for Thought, Community Partnership Coordinator, says the program is under the Rocky View Schools umbrella and utilizes, volunteers and community/national sponsors to bring free food programs to RVS schools.

The program has continued to grow throughout its 8-year existence and now offers close to 25 full-time programs throughout the district. Manachaban, Glenbow, Bow Valley High, Mitford/CCA (just beginning), RancheView and Fireside participate in the program which makes sure all kids have a good start to the day.

Demyen shares the motto of the program is 'If you are hungry, you eat'. "There are no questions asked, there are no qualifications to protect privacy, we don't ask for names/age/gender or anything like that, it is just if you are hungry you fill up. There are a million reasons why kids could be hungry these days."

Between early recreational commitments, to teens who's priority is not eating, late risers, or kids who come from financially strapped families the program is available. "Our schools basically prepare foods and breakfasts based on the healthy eating guideline that cover the four basic food groups and provide that each morning. We leave it up to each school to create a program that works best for bus/bell times, age groups, demographics; some have hot breakfasts and some have a grab and go and they can eat them in their classrooms."

While some schools are feeding 20 students other schools in the Cochrane area have 80 to 90 kids a day participating in the free program, Demyen shares the benefits are huge. "It is definitely something that is a value, provides a huge social impact, and improves their learning capabilities."

Breakfast is the priority of the program but the Food Bank/Cochrane Activettes offer a supplementary snack program to the schools as well. Thanks to sponsors such as Centrica, Cochrane Lions Club, and most recently the 100 Women Who Care the optics are improving greatly. "People have been contributing on an annual basis and it has been incredible."

Demyen was thrilled to hear 100 Women Who Care chose to support Food For Thought at their September meeting. "We had the beautiful, generous, compassionate women donate $7050 and we have spread that amongst four of the schools, Bow Valley, Cochrane Christian Academy, Fireside, and Mitford because we have national funders and funders from the province in the other schools, this was how we were able to add, enhance or create brand new breakfast programs."

If you are interested in helping financially or volunteering for the Food for Thought program you can find more information here or plan to attend the next 100 Women Who Care meeting December 5 at Guy's Cafe and Bakery, 7pm.

Cochrane's 100 Women Who Care is a group of like-minded women who in one hour donate $100 to a local charity/organization that supports the Cochrane area four times a year. For more information on the group head to 100 Women Who Care Greater Cochrane Area.