By: Sienna Burke
On March 11, 2026 VON‘s Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP) hosted the “Building Bridges with Breakfast” event in London, Ontario, bringing together community partners to collaborate on ways to support, expand and improve student nutrition programs. The 34 attendees represented rural and urban growers, current donors and advocates, community resource centres, food rescue organizations, the Middlesex-London Public Health Unit and organizations interested in supporting the School Nutrition Program.
OSNP supports student nutrition by providing funding for universal school meal and snack programs that are accessible to all students. They work to ensure that fresh fruits and vegetables are always available, and that meals and snacks provided are nutritionally balanced and culturally responsive. In London, Ontario, OSNP has expanded their reach from 73 schools in 2024/2025 to 98 schools in 2025/2026, supporting 31,350 students to access over 5.5 million meals and snacks.
OSNP operates on a cost-shared model wherein the school chooses a program based on their capacity and covers a portion of the cost through fundraising. Capacity within schools is varied and presents a challenge to expanding the program. OSNP and participating schools have implemented innovative solutions to these challenges through collaboration.
At the school level, London Central has set an example by involving developmental education students in the program delivery. On scheduled days throughout the week, students have the opportunity to build life skills and make a meaningful impact on their school community by shopping for ingredients and participating in the preparation of nutritious meals and snacks. This model works to decrease the reliance on school staff and volunteers to deliver the program, while providing valuable opportunities for students to get involved.
At the organization level, OSNP has established Local Planning Partnerships to support the long term sustainability of Student Nutrition Programs. These partnerships bring together lead agencies to support local decision-making, volunteer recruitment, fundraising and communication with school boards. Together, these organizations can share resources and insights to expand the program and address the challenges that arise. The “Building Bridges with Breakfast” event served to establish and expand these partnerships, working towards sustaining and strengthening local Student Nutrition Programs.
OSNP serves as a shining example of the power of collaboration to positively impact our community. In the words of a student:
“Thank you for the healthy snacks like fruit and granola bars. The snacks help me when I’m hungry in the afternoon when I need to concentrate. I’m able to absorb information better when I’m not hungry. The snack program has been a game changer.” ~ A.C., grade 8 student.
Learn more about OSNP here: https://osnp.ca/
