The After the Bell (ATB) Program aims to support school children aged 4–12 and their siblings up to age 13 with snacks they would be excited to enjoy at school. 

Last year, through this initiative, the ANIDA Food Bank distributed 961 snack hampers across our Toronto and Ottawa food banks helping families navigate the costly back-to-school season with greater ease. 

This initiative is about more than just snacks for children, it’s about the joy they feel having access to the same snacks as their peers, the relief we can grant parents even just for a moment, and how our efforts can transform the schooling experiences of the children we serve.

How Food Insecurity Affects Children

Food insecurity continues to affect a growing number of families in our communities. Research shows that 1 in 4 children are food bank users (Daily Bread Food Bank & NYHFB, 2025). Youth in food-insecure households are also at greater risk of experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, mood disorders, and difficulty concentrating in school. This can affect children’s social experiences, including their ability to feel included among peers during snack time and school breaks. Though it may seem small, providing snacks can significantly improve children’s emotions surrounding the back-to-school season.

What We’re Doing About It

The ATB program allows us to ease the burden for as many children as possible in our community facing food insecurity. Last year, we welcomed even more families than anticipated, distributing snack hampers to more children than in previous years. This was a meaningful success and renewed our commitment to continuing and growing this initiative. Programs like ATB not only strengthen food security, but also create brighter starts to the school year for children and families facing food insecurity.

In addition to snack hampers, we also provided children with basic school supplies they could use in class. Speaking from personal experience, new stationery always makes me more excited to learn and I believe it has the same effect for the kids in the ATB program. When children feel prepared and included, it boosts confidence and improves focus. Even something as simple as a snack or a fresh set of pencils can help a child feel more at ease among their peers, ready to learn, share, and participate.

Celebrating Success

The success of the After the Bell Program has been deeply encouraging for our team and it reaffirmed our commitment to child-centred food support. Thank you to our community partners, volunteers, and dedicated staff who made After the Bell such a meaningful success for the children we serve.

References

Men, F., Elgar, F. J., & Tarasuk, V. (2021). Food insecurity is associated with mental health problems among Canadian youth. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 75(8), 741–748. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-216149  

Daily Bread Food Bank, & North York Harvest Food Bank. (2025). (Daily Bread Food Bank & North York Harvest Food Bank). Who’s Hungry report 2025 (pp. 5–42). 

Charlebois, S. (2025). Canada’s food price report 2026. Dalhousie University. https://www.dal.ca/sites/agri-food/research/canada-s-food-price-report-2026.html  

Anisef, P., Robson, K., Maier, R., & Brown, R. S. (2017). (rep.). Food Insecurity and Educational Outcomes: A Focus on TDSB Students (pp. 4–10). Toronto: The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. 

Children First Canada (2021, March 14). 5 eye-opening ways kids are affected by food insecurity. Children First Canada. https://childrenfirstcanada.org/blog/5-eye-opening-ways-kids-are-affected-by-food-insecurity/