For kids, summer is a chance to build confidence, stay active, and create lifelong memories beyond the classroom.

But for families who rely on school food programs, the summer months can be especially challenging, particularly for those adjusting to a new life in Canada.

Awista Hashemi and her two sons, Saihoon and Sabahoon, moved to Canada from Afghanistan more than two years ago. 

Like many newcomers, she says adjusting to a new country hasn’t been easy.

But thanks to United Way BC’s School’s Out Summer Program, that transition has become a little easier.

“It’s totally hard to manage the life here, because you leave behind everything. You come here, family, everything, but we start here, like, help the community. The community help us so much,” said Hashemi.

“They give us groceries, healthy snacks for kids, and like, vegetables, carrots, like these things are so helpful for the families.”

Along with providing healthy food, the program also connects families with free summer activities that help children stay active, make friends, and keep learning.

“They make a new friend, good behaviours. Yeah. They’re excited every time they are coming to see. Wake up in the morning, they’re excited to go to the program.”

The program currently supports about 1,200 children across the Lower Mainland. But with the rising cost of living forcing more families to make difficult choices, demand continues to grow.

Trisha Dulku with United Way BC says children now make up roughly one-third of food bank users in Canada, making programs like this more important than ever.

“We’re at 22 program sites across Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, slightly over 1,200 kids that are able to take part, but the numbers on the wait lists are actually triple that,” said Dulku.

“If that is compounded with food insecurity. The lethargicness, kids feeling disengaged, not being able to focus because they’re hungry, it will really lead to some detrimental effects on our kids, and we need to invest in our kids.”

For the Hashemi family, the support has meant more than meals and summer activities.

It’s helped Canada truly feel like home.

“We don’t feel like we are alone. We feel like we have support,” said Hashemi.