Local Love Week – United Way Oxford

Help us feed kids and build connections

As a response to the increasing food insecurity we are seeing in our community, United Way Oxford has chosen to focus our 4th Annual Local Love Week efforts on supporting feeding kids in our community. Food Bank usage in Ontario has seen double-digit percentage increases in visits, with 1 in 3 Canadian children at risk of going hungry every day. Funding for the Ontario Student Nutrition Program helps reduce school expenses while supporting essential health and educational initiatives for children in Oxford County.

The school snack program not only ensures students receive the nutrition they need to stay focused and thrive academically, but it also plays a crucial role in strengthening bonds among students and building relationships with local volunteers. The Ontario Student Nutrition Program also introduces students to new foods they may not have at home, broadening their experiences and encouraging healthy eating habits. From Friday, March 6 to Friday, March 13th, all online donations made through our Local Love Week page, as well as donations collected at the office and through workplace & organization drives, will go toward supporting Feeding Kids and Building Connections.

Our Local Love Week partners at Adams Building Supply are committed to fostering connections with the community and have generously provided a match incentive, doubling the impact of donations of any amount that are received throughout the week, up to $5,000. Every contribution helps ensure that no student goes hungry and that families feel supported.

What's Happening During Local Love Week?

Local Love Week Cookies

Whisk & Roll Bakery will donate $2 for every six cookies purchased.

Local Love Week Mozza Sticks

Boston Pizza will donate $1 for every Mozza Sticks order.

Local Love Week Cupcakes

Special Occasion Cakes will donate $2 for every six cupcakes purchased. *March 10 – 13*

Local Love Week Beer

Upper Thames Brewery will donate $0.50 for every Local Love Beer can sold. *Beginning March 10*

Jamie Adams, President of Adams Building Supply Limited, “at Adams Building Supply, we believe in the power of community and the impact of Local Love. That’s why we’re proud to support United Way Oxford and this year’s Local Love Week, which is focused on feeding kids and building connections through school snack programs right here in Oxford County. We believe access to nutritious food should never be a barrier to a child’s education. When kids have the food they need, they can focus, learn and succeed. And food is about more than just nutrition. It builds connection, confidence, and community. So from March 6th to 13th, when you visit Adams Building Supply, you’ll have the opportunity to donate at checkout in support of Local Love Week. And this year, we’re matching every monetary donation up to $5,000, which means your contribution will go twice as far to support local kids. So, with your donation in-store or online, you can help make a real difference in the community. We hope you’ll join us in ensuring every child in Oxford County is fed, supported, and ready to learn.”

Sierra is a volunteer with the Ontario Student Nutrition Program in Tillsonburg.

“Being part of the OSNP program has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing how happy the kids get when they receive fresh, nutritious food, or even their favourite snack, reminds me just how impactful this program is.”

As with any program, there are challenges in ensuring everything runs smoothly week to week. The main challenge comes in the grocery haul, as Sierra visits local stores to carefully plan and purchase fresh food for the following Monday. With availability, pricing, and freshness varying each week, the snack program’s menu requires flexibility while ensuring the children have access to consistent, nutritious options.

“My reason for volunteering with the snack program was simple: I knew I wanted to be part of something that could have such a big impact on the students. Knowing that even a small effort can make a big difference in a child’s day motivates me to continue. At the end of the day, all that matters is that the students are happy and have access to nutritious food.”

As part of a collaboration with Southwestern Public Health, the kindergarten classes at Annandale Public School built a tower garden with carrots, romaine lettuce, radishes, and dill.

Funding from United Way Oxford allows the school to start their snack program earlier, with no downtime required between school years for extra fundraising, ensuring there is no gap between the first day of school and the first day of the snack program.

With help from their local community, including grocery stores, church groups, and the school’s administration, Annandale P.S. is ensuring that their families never have to worry about their children not having access to food.

Learn more about the Ontario Student Nutrition Program and how, together, we’re helping ensure that children and youth in Oxford County have the healthy nutrition they need to focus, learn, and grow. Every publicly funded school in Oxford County currently has a student nutrition program, and you can help ensure that they have the funding they need to provide those snacks to our local students. Every donation, no matter the amount, will have an incredible impact on a school in our community.