Saskatoon Public Schools unveiled their new Production Kitchen located at Lakeview Church.

The kitchen is a state-of-the art facility that allows the school division to prepare 1,000 meals a day for students across the school division.

Saskatoon Public Schools Manager of School Food Programs Jordan Sokmenoglu says the process of opening the kitchen was long, but every minute was worth it now that 1,000 more students will have something to eat every day. She adds that without the space at Lakeview Church, none of this would be possible.

“It was a lofty dream. We started dreaming of what could be and we started applying for grants. We came with this idea, and we started looking for space. It was around January that we had funds that we didn’t have a space. So, I found this ad for Lakeview Church kitchen and I thought ‘well, I might as well try’ and I put in a request.”

Director of Education Shane Skjervin says that students who are well-fed have a higher chance of success than those who go hungry at lunch time. He adds that having meals for students who would otherwise go without food will make them better learners.

“Research shows that when children are nourished, they’re more engaged in class, they behave better and they achieve more. This space and the work that happens every day helps us support those goals and the student’s success.”

The new kitchen was made possible through new funding awarded to Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation and via the Government of Canada’s Healthy Canadians and Communities and School Food Infrastructure funds. Saskatoon Public Schools says contributions of community partners such as CHEP, Lakeview Church, and the University of Saskatchewan were also critical.