Kitchener, Ontario, June 22, 2026: A new investment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is set to transform school food programs in Waterloo Region, as Nutrition for Learning, in partnership with the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) and Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), launches a groundbreaking “Food for All” pilot.

At an event hosted at Steckle Heritage Farm in Kitchener on June 18, 2026, Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon, alongside Nutrition for Learning CEO Erin Moraghan, announced that Nutrition for Learning has been awarded an OTF Grow grant in the amount of $596,700 spanning across 3-years.

"Erin and her team at Nutrition for Learning are bringing another innovative model to their work in our region,” said Jess Dixon, MPP Kitchener South-Hespeler. “The funds from the Ontario Trillium Foundation GROW program means they can leverage more partnerships, include education pieces and provide a new Farm-to-Classroom program. It's an example of a school nutrition program done right—efficient, effective, and impactful."

‍Moraghan adds, “Canada’s National School Food Policy is centred on creating a more equitable nutrition experience for all students, while saving families time and money by ensuring high-value meals are available to students. We’ve been working toward a vision where Waterloo Region families can depend on healthy food at school for all kids. This fall, we’re starting to make this a reality, one school and one meal at a time.”

‍Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the team at Nutrition for Learning will be piloting a weekly “Food for All” service at 20 schools in Cambridge and Kitchener featuring fresh, colourful, Ontario produce-rich — creating opportunities for students to share meals together, build lifelong food skills, and strengthen their connection to local food systems, while supporting our local economy and provincial agriculture.

‍“This is about more than food,” says Nutrition for Learning CEO, Erin Moraghan. “School food is an investment in the future excellence of our communities, nourishing the next generation’s potential. In our thirtieth year of operating, Nutrition for Learning — alongside our partners — is positioned to launch some of Ontario’s first ‘food for all’ school meal programs. This groundbreaking investment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation allows us to begin piloting breakfast and/or lunch opportunities offered to all students, rich with fresh Ontario produce and agrifoods.”

‍The pilot marks a significant shift in how school food programs are delivered — moving beyond stop-gap hunger solutions toward a universal, community-building model rooted in dignity, access, and belonging.

‍“The Waterloo Region District School Board is grateful that our students will benefit from this exciting three-year funding partnership between Nutrition for Learning and Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Scott Miller, Chief Executive Officer of WRDSB. “School food programs help establish equity of access for all students throughout their school journey, nourishing a young person’s potential academically and socially, and ensuring everyone has opportunities to participate fully. We look forward to expanding these programs in 12 pilot schools for the 2026–2027 school year, which will include greater access to sit-down, fresh meals and elevated student engagement with the farm-to-plate experience.”

‍Designed to integrate food literacy and hands-on learning, the program will connect students more deeply with Ontario agriculture while creating shared experiences around food.

‍“Access to healthy meals at school strengthens student learning and promotes healthy development,” said Jay Fedosoff, Superintendent of Student Achievement & Well-being at WRDSB. “School meal programs do more than nourish students; they help build lifelong nutrition habits, deepen connections to local food systems, and contribute to the well-being of entire communities. These pilot programs place students at the heart of the experience, and we’re eager to see how they will support WRDSB students and their families.”

‍The initiative builds on decades of collaboration across Waterloo Region, where school boards and Nutrition for Learning have worked together to ensure students can access food without stigma or barriers.

‍“WCDSB’s longtime partnership with Nutrition for Learning has supported hundreds of thousands of Waterloo Region students over the last three decades,” said Gerald Foran, Superintendent of Learning at WCDSB. “We observe the impacts that equitable access to nutrition has for K–12 students each day. Expanded programs made possible through this funding opportunity will go a long way in supporting learning outcomes, food literacy, and overall student opportunity, while providing significant grocery and time savings for families and caregivers.”

‍With 3-year support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Nutrition for Learning will be working extensively to evaluate the results of the pilot with plans to expand the model over the coming years.

‍“This is a moment to think differently about what school food can be,” added Moraghan. “Not just a program that fills gaps — but a movement that brings students together, supports families, strengthens communities, and helps define a culture of care for the next generation.”

‍To learn more about the Nutrition for Learning “Food for All” pilot, visit www.foodforall.ca.‍ ‍

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‍‍About Nutrition for Learning

In partnership with youth and educators, Nutrition for Learning continually strive to elevate the experience of universal food access at schools in ways that promote optimal wellbeing, healthy relationships, and food literacy. Each school year, N4L provides over 2-million meals to approximately 100,000 students at 180 schools across all four publicly funded school boards.

To learn more about Nutrition for Learning, visit www.nutritionforlearning.ca.

Press Contact

Elaine Kapogines
Director of Development & Communications
Nutrition for Learning
ekapogines@nutritionforlearning.ca | 519-841-8421

(Left to right): Gerald Foran, Superintendent of Learning at WCDSB; Erin Moraghan, CEO of Nutrition for Learning; Jess Dixon, MPP Kitchener South-Hespeler; Jay Fedosoff, Superintendent of Student Achievement & Well-being at WRDSB

To receive high-resolution copies of these photos or additional photos from our announcement event at Steckle Heritage Farm, please contact Elaine at ekapogines@nutritionforlearning.ca.