Harvest Manitoba officially kicks off the 2025/26 Meals2Go program today. The weekend and summer school nutrition initiative now supports 7,000 students each week in 21 schools across Winnipeg, Brandon, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and Thompson. In Brandon, Betty Gibson and King George schools take part of the program.
“The smiles on the faces of students, parents and teachers when we deliver the kits at our Meals2Go schools each week is the best reward,” said Mika Peterson, Harvest Manitoba’s Director of Community Programs. “It is heartwarming to see Manitoba work together to ensure students do not go hungry and it is wonderful to be able to bring this important program to even more kids this year.”
With support from Manitoba Education & Early Childhood Learning and the K&P Talbot Community Fund, Harvest Manitoba identified schools with the highest need for program expansion. The added funding has allowed Harvest to serve 2,000 additional students this year.
The Meals2Go program began in 2018 as Breakfast2Go and has grown each year to meet the rising need for improved child nutrition. Each Friday during the school year, participating schools receive weekend nutrition kits containing milk, yogurt, fruit, granola bars, and cereal. During the summer, Harvest operates pop-up sites outside schools to ensure continued access to healthy food for students.
Harvest Manitoba collects 13 million pounds of food every year, which is sorted and packed largely by volunteers into Harvest Hampers and distributed to Manitobans through its Community Food Network of more than 400 food banks and agencies in Winnipeg, rural, northern and First Nations communities.
Harvest feeds over 50,000 Manitobans who rely on using a food bank every month, and nearly half are children. To learn more or donate, please visit: HarvestManitoba.ca.
