A rumbling stomachs is a barrier to learning. For an increasing number of students, this is a daily reality that doesn’t just affect their focus but their overall well-being and academic success. With both childhood poverty and food insecurity in Edmonton at an all-time high, Top-ups for Tummies provides funding to Edmonton schools to increase access to nutritious food for students who need it most.
The program, launched by Edmonton Public Schools Foundation in 2024 and supported by a Community Grant from the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), operates on the idea that schools know their students best. “Top-ups is an initiative that allows schools to be responsive to the unique circumstances of the students they serve,” explains Christine Simmons, a former principal who now works as a supervisor in Strategic Division Supports for Edmonton Public Schools. Top-ups for Tummies empowers schools to apply for funding to address gaps in their existing school nutrition programs and to offer timely access to nutritious food during the school day.
This flexible approach allows for a range of responsive solutions. Some schools use the funding for a fruit bowl in the office, while others provide cereal and milk for students who missed breakfast. A high school even pre-loaded gift cards for its cafeteria so students could purchase food alongside their peers without stigma. This innovative, equity-driven model is crucial because food insecurity doesn’t look the same at schools across the city. When basic needs like food are not met, students are not able to participate successfully in their learning. “We know they’re not engaged, they’re not focused, they have no energy,” says Simmons, adding that this can also lead to a long-term disconnect from school. By providing access to healthy food at school, Top-ups for Tummies helps mitigate student hunger and allows them to focus on their learning.
ECF has been instrumental in getting the program off the ground. According to Catherine Bay, Acting Director at the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation, ECF’s initial $50,000 Community Grant provided the inaugural funding to launch the program. This seed money generated significant excitement, drawing in new donors and expanding the program’s reach. Bay emphasizes that this initiative demonstrates the power of partnership and how collectively our actions can strengthen community.
“Many of us at ECF are parents ourselves, so we understand just how vital nutritious food is for a child’s growth and learning,”
Christelle Agahozo, ECF Student Awards Associate says. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the difference this program is making in the lives of students.” In its first year, the program supported 79 schools and helped over 4,200 students. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive — Simmons recalls hearing about a family whose older child in junior high was giving their lunch to their younger elementary-aged siblings to ensure they weren’t hungry at school during a time when the family was experiencing financial challenges.
“A teacher observed this student doing this, and told them about Top-ups for Tummies and how they could access fruit from the fruit bowl or a brown bag lunch if they felt hungry,” recalls Simmons. “The student’s mother ended up calling the teacher and was so overcome with emotion. There was no judgment, her kid just got help when they needed it.” A few months later, the family was back on their feet and out of gratitude for Top-ups for Tummies, the student’s mother donated grocery gift cards to the school as a way of giving back and extending this support forward for other families who might need it.
As student enrollment and food insecurity continue to rise, the need for this kind of responsive, dignity-focused support is more critical than ever and Top-ups for Tummies will continue to be there to support schools. Through the partnership between the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation and ECF, Top-ups for Tummies is not just feeding hungry kids, it’s fueling their potential and building a more resilient community for all.
This story comes from the Fall 2025 Edition of Thrive Magazine.
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