They call it the “Hidden Hunger”
Food insecurity is a silent struggle that many students face long before they step into the classroom. While schools are centers of learning, growth, and development, they are also often lifelines for children who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity is a pressing issue affecting students across Ontario. Recent reports highlight the alarming prevalence of this problem, particularly in the wake of rising living costs and economic challenges.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. In schools, this often means students arriving hungry, therefore distracted, and unprepared to learn; not because they don’t want to, but because they’re fighting a deeper battle against hunger some are not even aware of themselves.
Prevalence of Food Insecurity
According to Ottawa Public Health's 2023 Nutritious Food Basket survey, nearly 25% of children in Ontario live in food-insecure households. This translates to approximately 700,000 children lacking consistent access to adequate and nutritious food. The situation is exacerbated by the increasing cost of maintaining a healthy diet, which has risen significantly in recent years, placing additional strain on families already struggling financially.
The Reality in Our Classrooms
The repercussions of food insecurity are profound. For many, school nutrition programs become a vital source of sustenance, sometimes serving as their primary or sole meal of the day.
Teachers and staff are often the first to see the signs—students who hoard snacks, struggle to focus, fall asleep in class, or regularly visit the nurse with headaches or stomach-aches that stem from not eating enough.
The Role of SMUN
In response to the escalating crisis of hidden hunger, SMUN found no other choice but to step up and take action. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of food banks, colleges, restaurants, and other food donors, our Food and Kitchen Program has blossomed into a growing network of support for schools in our community. We remain committed to addressing this urgent need while working toward long-term solutions. Who are we if we don’t share and stand together to combat hunger?
It all began with one school in our neighborhood, brought to our attention by a dedicated volunteer. Through open dialogue with the school, we were able to brainstorm ways to support students facing food insecurity at home. By providing weekly meals, along with food hampers and household staples, we’ve helped ease the burden for many families.
The strength of this partnership encouraged others to step forward, sharing their own struggles and asking for support. Today, we are proud to serve multiple schools dealing with food insecurity. These schools are now part of a newly formed collective—a network of support committed to tackling student hunger together.
Thankfully, schools are also part of the solution. Programs such as Breakfast clubs on site, provide numerous low-income students with nutritious meals daily. Some districts also offer weekend backpack programs, summer meal programs, and universal free lunch, regardless of income.
Yet, challenges remain. Stigma around free meals, paperwork barriers, and underfunded cafeteria-like programs can prevent students from accessing the help they need.
What Can Be Done?
Change starts with awareness and action:
· Support school meal programs: Advocate for policies that expand access to free or reduced-price meals.
· Donate or volunteer: Local food banks and school-based food programs always need support.
· Raise awareness: Ask your local school, share stories and stats. Hunger often hides in plain sight.
· Push for policy change: Encourage lawmakers to support universal free meals and expanded SNAP benefits.
One hungry child is too many. Every child deserves to learn on a full stomach. As a community, we must do more to ensure that no student goes hungry—not just because it's the right thing to do, but because our future depends on it.