Miss Teenage Red Deer provides books to young readers through hampers

As she prepares for national competition in Toronto this july, Elizabella saw an opportunity to encourage early childhood literacy.

A young teen from Red Deer is about to compete in Toronto for the title of Miss Teenage Canada — and has created a social media platform dedicated to the advancement of early childhood literacy, and as a means to garner support for her forthcoming trip.

She wanted to get more books into the hands of children in the city who might not have them, yet also wanted to respect privacy. How could she do it?

That’s when she thought of the Food Bank, and their food hamper distribution program.

Sometimes, the stars align.

When Elizabella’s mother reached out to the Food Bank to ask if we’d like to partner on this program, the team was brainstorming their next #40for40 promotion for their anniversary.

June 8, the fourth 40-day acknowledgement date, was a good time to focus on children and families. Food Banks Canada’s After The Bell program would be starting, and they wanted something to fall into alignment with it. They came up with the 40 Lunches campaign, encouraging donors to “adopt-a-kid” by donating $200 to buy 40 lunches for a child, one for each weekday they are not in school over the summer.

When the request from Elizabella was made, to add age-appropriate books to hampers going to households with children, a match was made.

Summer is not always sunny for some.

Because nearly 40% of those who receive food support from the Food Bank are under 18, these programs — “After The Bell” and “40 Lunches” — are intended to help feed children who might otherwise have challenges in getting proper meals. Many of these children rely on school lunch programs for nutrition during the week, so when school is out, they experience deprivation.

While the focus of the Food Bank is still on fund-raising and receiving food donations, and distributing nutritious food packs with “After the Bell'“ this summer, it is hoped that kids who find an extra ‘surprise’ in the hamper that comes home knows that another young person cared enough to think of them.

“Readers are leaders, they say,” said Elizabella. “It feels good to give kids the sense that yes, they can grow up to be leaders too.”

how it will work.

With the intake system at the Food Bank, volunteers distributing the hampers will be able to see the ages of any children in the household. With parental permission, age-appropriate books will be added to the dry goods box they receive upon pick-up.

The Food Bank has received enough books to put in food hampers at random, beginning today until school returns at the end of August. Not all families may receive books, but all provided will be distributed.

“It’s wonderful to see this kind of synergy happening,” says Mitch Thomson, Executive Director of the Food Bank, “from a national level with Food Banks Canada and all their sponsors for After the Bell, to our own donation campaign, to the individual teenager who has the vision of helping kids improve their lives through literacy. It demonstrates that all of us can take steps to make a positive difference for others.”

To support Elizabella’s bid for the national title in July, contact Kristina, or watch @LiteraryWarriors24 channel on YouTube.