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Camp cook program student Tyler Adams presents Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik principal Jesse Payne, third from left, with a $500 donation to the school snack program on behalf of fellow classmates Margaret Kalaserk, Charmaine Amarok, Joe Kanak, Tracy Tatty and instructor Glenna Garramone, back row from left, and Kelly Kanayok, Joseph Kavik and Robert Angootealuk, front row from left, at the Rankin Inlet Learning Centre this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

RANKIN INLET
A group of adult students in the camp cook program donated $500 to the school snack program in Rankin Inlet this past month.

The program serves healthy snacks to about 700 students at Leo Ussak Elementary School, Simon Alaittuq School and Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) every morning.

MUI principal Jesse Payne accepted the donation, and said efforts like this are greatly appreciated. He said the schools are always looking for funding to support the snack program and every donation, big or small, helps a great deal.

"We do get some funding through Brighter Futures," said Payne. "But we still have to raise some of our funds for the program. With so many students to support, $500 means a lot, especially right now because we're out soliciting funds for our snack programs."

Payne said every student who attends school in the morning receives at least two snack items. He said the items can range from juice packs to fruit, yogurt, granola bars and cheese strips.

"We served bannock a couple of times a week earlier in the year, and we hope to start that again as soon as we can find a few elders to come in and help out with it.

"We try to mix the snacks up as much as possible for the kids.

"We surveyed the students this past year to find out what they wanted to see as part of their snack program.

"Then we ordered around that when we placed our barge order, but now we're buying our fresh fruit and bars locally around town."

Payne said the value of students starting their morning with a healthy snack can't be overstated. He said studies have shown time-and-time again, students are better learners when they're not hungry.

"You can concentrate on your work if you're not sitting there hungry with your stomach growling.

"But, if you're concentrating on your basic need of food, or if you don't have enough fluids in you, you're thinking more about your physical needs than your mental needs.

"So, we try and provide snacks to our students so they're not sitting in class hungry and they can concentrate on their learning.

"It's good see groups are thinking about our schools when they make a donation and they're all greatly appreciated."

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