Williams Lake, B.C. – Nutritionists call it the most important meal of the day and it’s a message the Rotary Club of Williams Lake has taken to heart.

The non-profit has partnered with a group of teachers and businesses in town to help fund Breakfast For Learning – a program that offers a free breakfast for students at the two high schools in town – Columneetza and Lake City secondary schools.

“The schools were looking for some financial help to aid them in the program and so our club thought it was a great idea to get involved in this,” says Wade Beaulieu.

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“So, we followed through and applied for a district grant from our district Rotary club and we were awarded the grant to match the funds we were willing to donate and so we just went from there and it’s a great program feeding kids and giving them a great start to their day.”

He estimates it costs from $1,600-$2,000 each school year to run and provides hungry students fresh fruit, toasted bagels, yogurt, cheese and tea each morning to any of the students that attend either campus.

Beaulieu estimates 30-40 students at each school take advantage of the program every day proving to him there’s a need for the service in the community.

Through the partnership the program was also able to purchase commercial toasters, a freezer and other items to assist with the preparation of the food.

“There is a definite need. There’s a need in probably all schools, it’s just not something that is well known or talked about,” he says.

“The other Rotary club in town is doing another program that’s helping out elementary school kids. It provides food to them over the weekend. They get a backpack and some food to help them feed themselves.”

Ideally, Beaulieu would love to see the program spread to other areas of the province too.

“It would ne nice to this happen in other communities as well because it’s not a huge expense and it’s very rewarding and the kids and the whole community benefits,” he says.

“It’s great to see the kids come in and grab something and be very gracious about it.”