Our Story
Bigger than breakfast since 1998.
For more than 25 years, Niagara Nutrition Partners has made sure no kid starts the school day hungry. Today we're the backbone of student nutrition in every Niagara school, feeding bodies, building community, and helping kids show up ready to thrive.
When a child's stomach is empty, everything else comes second. Fill it, and you give them the chance to eat, learn and succeed.The belief at the heart of Niagara Nutrition Partners
How we work
Three things guide everything we do
Universal access
Every program is open to every student, with no application, label or stigma. A meal is a right, not a reward.
Locally rooted
Programs are run by people who know their schools, stocked with fresh, Ministry-approved food and local farm-to-school produce.
More than a meal
A warm, welcoming space to start the day, building belonging, life skills and connection alongside good nutrition.
Milestones
From a few schools to all of Niagara
The early years
Grassroots beginnings
Before provincial funding existed, a small number of volunteer-led nutrition programs ran in Niagara entirely on community support, laying the foundation for the network we have today.
The first programs officially open
The first Ministry-funded student nutrition programs open across Niagara, marking the start of a coordinated regional approach.
Two staff, one region
Just two staff members, based at Community Care of St. Catharines and Project SHARE in Niagara Falls, coordinated programs across all of Niagara. Today the team is eight staff and more than 1,000 frontline volunteers.
Becoming region-wide
The Breakfast Gala begins
Our signature fundraiser and student Cook-Off competition is established, celebrating young culinary talent.
The official regional provider
Agreements signed with all four publicly funded school boards make Niagara Nutrition Partners the region's official Student Nutrition Program provider.
Farm to School apples take root
A partnership with FirstOntario Credit Union lays the groundwork for today's Farm to School Apple Program, delivering locally grown apples from DeVries Fruit Farm to students across Niagara.
Feeding kids through the pandemic
Working alongside all four school boards, we kept food moving through grocery gift cards, Farm to (Virtual) Classroom produce boxes, community pickup hubs and direct home deliveries.
A national movement
Advocating at Queen's Park
We engaged local MPPs and provincial partners to push for greater investment in student nutrition programs across Ontario.
A national school food program
Canada announces its first National School Food Program with a three-year commitment, ending its place as the only G7 country without one. We were proud to be among the many organizations advocating for it.
Made permanent
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces that Canada's National School Food Program will become permanent.
A new central warehouse
We relocate to a centralized warehouse in the heart of Niagara, expanding food recovery, storage and community donations while improving access for schools and volunteers.
The program becomes law
The National School Food Program Act (Bill C-15) receives Royal Assent and becomes law in Canada.
In every Niagara school
At the start of the 2026-27 school year, we expand to provide student nutrition programs in every publicly funded school across Niagara Region.
The people
Meet our team
A small, dedicated staff keeps food moving, programs funded and schools supported across Niagara, morning after morning.
Leeann Arcaro-King
leeannarcaroking@niagaranutritionpartners.caThe Board
Our Advisory Committee
Poppy Gilliam (Chair) – Community Care Board Representative / District School Board of Niagara
Marcy Heit – Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold
Maria Passero – District School Board of Niagara
Paolo Sirianni – Niagara Catholic District School Board
Jackie Watson – Niagara Catholic District School Board
Katie Macoretta – Niagara Region Social Services
Ginette McCormack – Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
Gillian Chappell – Niagara Region School Health Team
Tyler Arsenault – Haldimand Norfolk REACH
Jennifer Ede – Registered Holistic Nutritionist
Christine Susa – FirstOntario Credit Union
Partners & Funders
Made possible together
Government funding covers part of the cost of every meal. The rest is made up by the generosity of community partners, community foundations, and local businesses.
The Student Nutrition Program is a provincial initiative partially funded by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and administered regionally by Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H.
Programs delivered in partnership with Niagara’s four publicly funded school boards.
