Last summer, a family walked into the Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub in Medicine Hat, Alberta, appearing stressed. “[It was] a mother, father and their two children; they’d recently fallen on hard times due to job loss,” said executive director Melissa Mullis in a report to Food Banks Canada. 

“When I handed them bags from the After the Bell program, the mother’s expression changed,” Mullis continued. “She opened them to reveal snacks, fruits and vegetables, and her eyes filled with tears of relief. She shared that she had been anxious about feeding her children during the summer, especially since their school meals were no longer available.” 

The kids’ spirits seemed to lift, too. They rifled through the bags, picking out food items and chatting excitedly. 

“The parents expressed immense gratitude, not only for the food but also for the community support that made them feel less isolated during a tough time,” Mullis recalled. “It made me feel proud to be part of this initiative.” 

The Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub is one of hundreds of organizations that participate in After the Bell. This Food Banks Canada initiative addresses child hunger by providing bags of nutritious, kid-friendly foods throughout the summer when many crucial in-school food programs are closed. 

Roughly one in every three visits to a food bank are made by or on behalf of children. The summer months can pose particular challenges for families: parents or guardians may face extra childcare expenses, and they can’t necessarily depend on school-based meal programs to reduce their grocery bills or help meet their children’s nutritional needs.  

After the Bell helps to fill this gap. In the summer of 2025, the program will distribute 215,000 packs in 235 communities from coast to coast to coast. Thanks to donations and special rates from our partners, participating food banks and community organizations will receive eight weeks’ worth of packs containing shelf-stable items such as cereal, smoothie pouches and granola bars. And thanks to our fresh food sponsor, Subway Canada, they’ll also receive funds that will make it possible for every last food pack to include fresh items such as apples, sugar snap peas, berries or yogurt. 

Subway Canada contributes to After the Bell through its Never Miss Lunch program, now entering its sixth year. Fortunate news for cookie lovers: this year, Never Miss Lunch will once again feature Subway cookies. Visit your local Subway restaurant from June 16 to 22 to purchase one of these sweet treats, and Subway will donate a portion of the proceeds to Food Banks Canada, helping to supplement After the Bell packs with fresh goodness.

“We know how important yet difficult it can be for children in food-insecure homes to access fresh foods,” says Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada. “Therefore, with the support of Subway and Never Miss Lunch donation week, we’ve made it a priority for the After the Bell packs.” 

“There have never been more kids facing hunger in Canada than there are right now,” Beardsley continues. “Food Banks Canada is incredibly grateful to Subway Canada for their vital role in bringing well-rounded nourishment and a sense of support to children and their families each summer for the past six years. We agree with Subway wholeheartedly that kids should be able to focus on being kids, not being hungry.” 

Purchase any Subway cookie between June 16 and June 22, 2025, and the Subway Never Miss Lunch program will donate a portion of the proceeds to Food Banks Canada to help ensure that kids have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, even when regular school nutrition programs take a break throughout the summer months.