By 8 a.m. — as most people begin weekday morning routines or sit down for breakfast — Debbie Marshall's already got pots heating on the stove and meat thawing, and is prepping fruit and veggies. Every morning, from an apartment-sized school kitchen in St. John's, she whips up healthy, hot lunches daily for anywhere from 140 to 200 elementary students.

A head cook and server for Newfoundland and Labrador's School Lunch Association (SLA) who started out as a volunteer nearly 20 years ago when her kids were in kindergarten, Marshall knows the value of every tray of mac and cheese, pancakes, goulash or lasagna that she and her student helpers serve up during the 45-minute lunch rush.

"In Newfoundland, we're a rich province, but in another way, we're a poor province. We have a lot of people here struggling.... So at least when [kids] come in, the parents know their children are getting their lunches each and every day," Marshall said.

WATCH | This school in Newfoundland and Labrador serves hot lunches: This school serves kids hot lunches daily. With federal funds, programs like this can expand Duration 6:06 In the spring, the federal government unveiled $1 billion over five years to fund Canada's first national school food program. Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province to officially sign on. We check in on a program, and find out how the funding will help increase their reach.

"They always know if they need a little bit extra, they can come to me," she said.