One million kids fed. Nearly 2,200 schools. And a national team of just nine people. On this episode, I'm sitting down with Shantelle Rhynold, Executive Director of President's Choice Children's Charity. We talk about removing hunger as a barrier to learning, feeding kids with dignity, and why food insecurity is an invisible issue in every Canadian community. Plus: container farms in remote northern communities, cheese-making in the classroom, and how a few cents at the checkout add up to something big. It's an inspiring conversation about what it really takes to feed a child at school and move towards ending child hunger in Canada for good.
In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Shantelle Rhynold, Executive Director of President's Choice Children's Charity, for an inspiring conversation about addressing child food insecurity in Canada and how school food programs help kids learn, grow, and thrive. Recorded live at Loblaw's head office, this episode explores how a national team of just nine people reached a remarkable milestone: feeding one million children.
Shantelle shares her nine-year journey with PC Children's Charity, from a promotional planning role at Loblaw to marketing and fundraising, and now into executive leadership. She explains the charity's mission, removing hunger as a barrier to learning, and why feeding kids with dignity and without stigma is at the heart of everything the charity does.
Listeners will learn how the Power Full Kids program works in nearly 2,200 schools coast to coast. Rather than shipping food, the charity provides flexible funding so each school can build the breakfast, snack or lunch program that fits its community. Programs must be universally accessible, run at least four days a week, and pair a fruit or vegetable with a protein or grain. Shantelle also explains the charity's equipment support, school audits, and mid-year funding reviews as it extends its reach to all three Canadian territories this year.
Because Loblaw covers administration costs as founding partner, 100% of customer and community donations go directly back into communities. She also describes how Loblaw's network of stores, distribution centres and store support teams rallied together to help the charity hit its one-million milestone. Shantelle explains how the in-store checkout roundup program turns micro donations into major impact, and why small change matters when Canadians are feeling the pressure of food affordability.
The conversation also digs into food education and innovation. Shantelle shares memorable stories from the field, including cooking with harvests from a hydroponic container farm in a remote northern Indigenous community in Saskatchewan, and a cheese-making class in Sarnia that revealed the power of hands-on learning. She previews the charity's next chapter: smaller, mobile hydroponic growing towers that teach kids how food travels from seed to plate.
Michael and Shantelle also discuss how charities, provincial and federal governments, and like-minded organizations can collaborate without duplicating efforts, and why food insecurity is an invisible issue that exists in every community. Looking ahead, Shantelle says the priority is to make feeding one million children a sustainable annual commitment, then fill the gaps where help is needed most.
Whether you're interested in Canadian retail, corporate social responsibility, school nutrition, food security or community giving, this episode offers an inspiring look at how Loblaw and PC Children's Charity are making a difference, one child at a time.