To reduce the impact of shopping baskets on families’ wallets, a grandfather from Sainte-Monique in Center-du-Québec has restarted elementary school cafeteria service. Together with his loved ones, he would like to offer all students a balanced diet.
André Dufresne is a retired chef and has decided to return to his passion. He and his daughter have resumed cafeteria service at Sainte-Monique Elementary School, where two of his grandchildren learn.
They first took steps to find a caterer willing to provide hot meals. The problem is that several companies refuse to introduce this type of service because it is unprofitable in small schools where it is also necessary to ensure the distribution of meals. That was the problem in Sainte-Monique.
At dinner, André Dufresne’s entire family takes part in distributing hot meals and ensuring that every student is fed.
“We don’t leave anyone here without lunch. We feed everyone, whether they have forgotten their lunch or the disadvantaged families we keep an eye on to complete the children’s lunch. Our caterer is generous with these portions. We manage to feed more young people and supplement this by distributing fresh vegetables and apples,” explains André Dufresne.
He looked for local partners who could help him, such as vegetable farms in the community and an orchard in the area.
To keep his project profitable, André Dufresne managed to obtain grants in the three municipalities from which the students come: Grand-Saint-Esprit, Sainte-Monique and Nicolet. Through basic activities it will also be possible to improve the menu and organize theme days.
André Dufresne’s family hopes that eventually many schools will have access to balanced and affordable meals for the benefit of our little ones.