The Weekender Program provides food for schoolchildren who might otherwise go hungry during the weekend period.
The program started in 2018 with Good Shepherd Conference using their own funds to support 20 children in each of two schools. Then in 2021, Edmonton Central Council established a Weekender Program for the inner city, beginning with one school in January and another in September, serving 30 students at each school.
During the 2025-26 school year, St. Albert Conference added their support by serving students at two schools in the north part of the city. Today a total of 145 students at eight schools are receiving food for the weekend.
The students are identified by school staff, who get permission from parents for their children to receive the food. The food is purchased, packaged and dropped off to each school by SSVP conference members. On the last day of the school week, usually a Friday, the food packets are placed in the students’ backpacks to foster privacy.
There are usually 13 packing sessions during a school year. At each session enough food is packed individually for a three-week period. Presently, about 435 individual packets are assembled by these three conferences at each of their sessions. In total, for the 2025-26 school year, 5,655 individual food packets will be assembled and delivered to the schools to be given out to these students. When asked what kids liked best, they answered “the oatmeal because it makes my tummy full.”
Financial support has come from many sources over the years. Edmonton Central Council now funds the whole Weekender Program. One-quarter of the money raised at the 2025 Gala was designated for the Weekender, and the Grants Committee actively searches for other possible sources.
We are grateful for the volunteers who give of their time and energy throughout the school year to help these hungry kids, and to the donors and benefactors who help keep the program going. We invite anyone else who seeks to assist needy families to join us in this work or to consider offering financial support.
Mike McKay, Coordinator, Weekender Program
