What is Live Free?

Everyday, many children in our community live without the basic necessities that many of us take for granted. They lack warm homes, food to eat or a caring person to ensure they have what they need to grow and achieve a bright future. Often these children are sent to school without the proper nutrition to allow them to focus in their classes. Put simply, they are too hungry to learn. But this can change and you can make a difference. By raising funds for the Food and Friends program through the Live Free Campaign, you can help Food and Friends provide a healthy start to the day for any child in Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin County who needs it.

Can you Live Free for those that Live Without?

Food and Friends is a student nutrition program available to all children at 65 sites in Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin County. In the 2008/2009 school year, over 11,800 students were provided with meals. The program ensures that students have the nutrition that they need to be healthy and ready to grow, learn, and succeed. Of the money required to run the program, only 15% of food costs are covered by government funds. Each year Food and Friends relies on community partnerships to meet the funding gap. You can help us meet the needs of the youngest members of our community. You can make the effort to Live Free for a day.

Friday, March 5th will be Live Free Day. You can contribute by taking the challenge to Live Free of something you take for granted every day. Maybe it’s a regular treat that you give yourself or it’s something that you love to do each day. Can you give that up for one day to show support for those who live without each and everyday? See if you can challenge your friends and family too. Get sponsors to provide support for you in your effort to Live Free. Or Live Free for the whole day and donate the money you would normally spend on yourself to help us raise funds to support children who are your neighbours.
 
Every dollar raised by the Live Free Campaign will be used to support children and students through The Food and Friends Program at locations in the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board. Administrative support to Food and Friends is provided by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.

Take the challenge. Live Free for those who Live Without.