Oakville, ON – The breakfast program at Abbey Lane Elementary school is about to get an upgrade, thanks to the generosity of Sutton Group - Quantum Realty Inc.* agents in Oakville and Mississauga who donated cash, food and a new electric frying pan. The food drive was spearheaded by REALTOR® Sandi Puddefoot, whose children attended Abbey Lane. She has seen the breakfast program grow over the past seven years; it now feeds more than 100 students.
“[The program] was so small when we first started, but it’s much more impressive now,” says Puddefoot (pictured above left with sales manager Suzan Trabert). “Volunteers serve cereals, fresh fruit, juice, eggs and toast. Better than most breakfast buffets!”
The Abbey Lane Elementary school breakfast program is a partnership with Halton Food For Thought and relies entirely on donations of food and volunteer time to prepare meals.
Although Oakville is a relatively affluent area, food security is an issue for many families and according to Halton Food For Thought, each day 1 in 10 children arrive at school hungry. Program coordinator Nancy Hardcastle says that the benefit of a daily breakfast program is twofold: it provides students with the nutrition necessary for academic success, and it destigmatizes food insecurity. “The program is available to any student who wants to use it,” says Hardcastle. “This way instead of kids feeling singled out, they see this as a time to eat together socially and develop healthy eating habits.”
Tina Gardin, Broker of record at Sutton Group - Quantum Realty Inc.*, is delighted with the results of the food drive. “There are so many ways to get involved in our community and when one of our agents supports a cause that’s close to them it’s amazing to see how the rest of the brokerage bands together to make a real difference.”
To learn more about how Halton Food For Thought supports local schools, visit www.haltonfoodforthought.com. To learn more about Sutton Group - Quantum Realty Inc.*, visit www.suttonquantum.com.
Sutton is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated company with more than 8,000 REALTORS® in over 200 offices nationwide. To find out more about Sutton, visit www.sutton.com. To learn more about Sutton Spirit, visit www.suttonspirit.com.
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Sutton Group - Quantum Realty Inc.* Contact:
Alyson Linke
905-844-5000 ext. 3273
*Independently owned and operated brokerage
Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd. Contact:
Sandra Vujatovic
604-691-1655
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