Christina St. McDonald's. BlackburnNews.com file photo.Christina St. McDonald's. BlackburnNews.com file photo.
Sarnia

Ringing in the school year with 'Loonies for Lunches'

McDonald's restaurants in Sarnia are set to pack hundreds of school lunches for kids in need.

'Loonies for Lunches' back-to-school food drive, a two-week campaign which helps the Inn of the Good Shepherd stock their shelves with lunch items for area students, kicks off August 26.

Inn Executive Director Myles Vanni said the program has raised between $5,000 to $8,000 each year since 2006.

"Franchisees Collen and Peter Buckley and the McDonald's team have been doing this for 14 years and the funds raised from that each year are put back into our back-to-school program. Sadly, 700 kids rely on the food bank every month, so we want to make sure that those lunch and snack items are there for the kids," he said.

(Photo by Inn of the Good Shepherd) (Photo by Inn of the Good Shepherd)

Vanni said the program ensures that every child in Sarnia-Lambton is getting the nutrition they need at school.

"Eating healthy is not cheap, so when we can provide some of those things, we have our fresh food program bringing in vegetables through the Mobile Market and fresh fruit to the food bank, they all help to make sure the kids are getting that nutrition," he said.

Vanni said they'll be kicking off the campaign with mascots, firefighters and more at the Exmouth Street McDonald's Monday.

You can drop off your cash or food donations at the Christina Street, Exmouth Street and London Road McDonald's locations until September 8.

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