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At two north Etobicoke schools, about 80 kids drop-in for breakfast club each morning before the school bell rings. Students might pick up a hot pizza breakfast wrap or a bowl of cereal, with apples, clementines, bananas, yogurt and cheese available, too.
But limited funding is a stumbling block to expan d the breakfast program to more schools in this west-end Toronto community, where families often "have tough chocies to make: a roof over their heads or groceries on the table," said Khudaija Sheikh, executive director of Albion Neighbourhood Services.
To bolster current programs, for instance, Sheikh partners with grocers as well as food banks like Second Harvest, while also seeking discounts and donations — all necessary given rising costs for food and staffing.
While she's working with municipal funders, she's yet to see any money directly from the National School Food Program unveiled last year.
With Tuesday's budget, the Liberal governme
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