Squamish School Meal Program

Squamish CAN (Climate Action Network) has partnered with Sea to Sky School District (SD48) to extend its services by providing our School Meal Program. The program is intended to ensure that all students can access nourishing food at school, regardless of family income and without stigma.

Squamish CAN supports feeding Sea to Sky School District Students in Squamish through:

Pay-What-You-Can School Lunch Program
Food in low-barrier School Fridges
Breakfast items for before school breakfast programs

The Squamish School Meal Program is currently serving 500 students, however government funding only covers approximately 200 fully subsidized students.

Families use meal programs for many reasons, including saving time on lunches, enjoying meals with peers, easing financial pressure, or during temporary challenges. The program operates on a pay-what-you-can model to support fairness and long-term sustainability as funding is limited. Given limited resources, we ask that families contribute what they can to ensure we can keep offering the program into the future to benefit the community!

FAQs for "Pay-What-You-Can" Lunch Program:

What does “Pay What You Can” Mean?

We want to offer a nutritious lunch to all families who would like to access this program. Through the Feeding Futures program, we have funding to support students who need access to a free or low-cost meal. However, the funding is not enough to cover all students to access a free lunch.
We live in a place where there is a large gap between families with wealth and families who struggle to put food in their children’s lunch box each day. If you can afford to pay the suggested price, we encourage you to do so.
If you are in a position to contribute more than the recommended amount, you can donate to food programs in Squamish here (eligible for a charitable receipt) to ensure all students can access the food they need at school.

Contributions directly fund meals for students. Just $1,200 feeds a student for an entire school year. Tax receipts are available. Select School “School District No. 48”, Initiative: “Squamish School Meal Program”

How do I pay for the lunch program?

Payment for the School Meal Program is through School Cash Online. We have recommended an amount of $120 per month for schools on the program 5 days a week, and $50 a month for those on the 2 day a week program.

Payment via cash or cheque can be dropped off to your school clerical. Cheques can be addressed to “School District No. 48” with the memo “Squamish School Meal Program” indicated.

Can I pick which days my student receives lunch?

I no longer want to be on the program, how can I unenrol?

I am interested in being on the program, how do I sign up?

What food will be provided?

Are dietary restrictions and allergies accommodated?

At this time we do not have capacity to provide options for dietary restrictions, in the future we are hoping to add the option to opt-in to a vegetarian version of the meal program.

We recommend that students with anaphylactic allergies do not participate in the meal program as we cannot guarantee the risk of cross contamination. If you have any specific concerns or questions, please contact [email protected]

I want to volunteer to support food programs in the Sea to Sky, how do I sign up?

Do you have further questions or feedback? Reach out to [email protected]