Hastings Hot Lunch is Coming!

Illustrations of different food items, courtesy of freepik.com.

Hastings PAC is excited to announce we are ready to move forward with our new monthly hot lunch fundraiser! It will typically take place on the last Friday of the month, except if there is a day off from school or holiday break impending.

As of this week, you can take one thing off your to-do list and support Hastings PAC initiatives by ordering lunch through our provider C’est Mon Cafe (CMC). Funds raised go into supporting programs and initiatives for Hastings students like enhanced learning opportunities, food security in a variety of different forms, and classroom supplies.

Here’s how the hot lunch fundraiser works:

-head to the school account listing for Hastings.

-click ‘order’ for the correct time period (CMC splits the year up into Sept-Jan, and then Feb-June.)

-check out the menu first (it’s not this old-timey one in the illustration!), consider whether you want any add-ons like sides or beverages for your child(ren), and when you’re ready, click through to the order form itself (a Google form.) Please make sure you include your child(ren)’s first and last name, grade, and correct division number (check it here if you’re not sure what it is.) Meals are delivered on the day based on the division number, so having correct information ensures children get to eat their meals as quickly as possible. Don’t worry too much about the ‘odd’ and ‘even’ calendar day menus; the Google form only allows you to select from available options.

IMPORTANT – ORDERS AND PAYMENT MUST BE IN BY 6 PM the day before the hot lunch fundraiser occurs. For example, for the hot lunch fundraiser occurring Fri Oct 18th, orders must be received by CMC before 6 pm on Thurs Oct 17. If the order is not sent in on time, your child(ren) will not receive a meal. This is at CMC’s discretion, and is outside the control of Hastings PAC.

ALSO IMPORTANT – CMC allows you to specify in the form whether your child(ren) has/have specific dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or halal meals. However, if you have specific allergy or other concerns, it is best to email CMC directly to see what they can accommodate properly and safely. These requests and requirements must also be received by CMC in advance.

At the moment, the Hot Lunch Committee has set four dates for this fundraiser (Oct, Nov, Dec, and Jan) and if you would like to participate in all four days, you can go ahead and order those meals now in advance for convenience’s sake. However, there is no obligation to order more than once (or at all, this is completely voluntary!) You can also choose to order just one meal, and then play it by ear from there as to whether you would like to order again, as long as you order before 6 pm the day before the hot lunch fundraiser is next scheduled to take place.

Ordering and payment goes directly through the provider, but all communications about the hot lunch fundraising days will come through the PAC email newsletter, so if you are not already signed up for that, please do so now through the embed form here, on the right hand side of the website page.

If you are on the regular daily hot lunch program, you are certainly welcome to take part in the fundraising hot lunch! Any extra meals from daily hot lunch will be distributed to those who would like to have them or take them home. If you would like to participate in the hot lunch fundraiser but it feels outside your current budget, please email Trevor and we would be delighted to coordinate.

This is a new adventure for Hastings PAC, so if you have any thoughts or feedback as we go along — or perhaps have an idea for a meal you’d like to have brought in for a special occasion — please absolutely get in touch!

Food Security

Did you know the Hastings PAC has a Food Security subcommittee? Parent volunteers have put together some information for families with options for support in accessing healthy, low cost food as well as offering support through donations or volunteering.

Food programs available in Hastings-Sunrise

Kiwassa Food Hamper program: Contact Food Programs Coordinator Blain Butyniec BlainB@kiwassa.ca T: 604-254-5401 ext. 253

Community Food Market offers our community a mix of fruits and vegetables with prices 10% lower than wholesale costs. Held each Wednesday from 2-5 pm in Pandora Park.

Grandview Woodland Food Connection: Food Hampers delivered to individuals. COVID Emergency Food Home Delivery Program https://gwfoodconnection.com/2020/07/30/8249/
Contact gwfcnetwork@gmail.com Tel: 604-718-5895

Quest Food: https://questoutreach.org/

If you have any questions about these or other resources, please reach out to:

Offer your Support by Donating or Volunteering

Hastings Youth Council at Hastings Community Centre partnering with Give Back Van is hosting a clothing and food drive. Monday to Friday until December 18th – drop off at Hastings Community Centre – outside of the games room (to the right of the front door). Gloves, socks, scarves and new packages of face masks, non-perishable food.

KidSafe Project Society provides essential programs and services to referred Vancouver children and youth and provides support to our community through Hastings Elementary via children’s programming and food. https://www.kidsafe.ca/get-involved/donate/

Backpack Buddies is a province-wide non-profit that provides kids with groceries on Friday after school that they can take home for the weekend to support food access for the whole family.
They have increased their programs significantly since COVID.
https://www.backpackbuddies.ca/

Pacific Immigrant Resources Society supports immigrant and refugee women and children to become active participants in Canadian society. They have partnered with the United Way to offer an emergency food hub with distribution centres in South Vancouver and Burnaby. https://pirs.bc.ca/