Demand for this breakfast program has doubled since schools closed

The breakfast program run out of acolourful little portable outsideLord Elgin Public School officially opens every day at 8:30 a.m. Still,some of the kids start showing up a half-hour earlier.

Many are groggy. Siblingscome together in groups, orfamilies send an emissary.

Some still have the impressions of pillows etched into their cheeks, but they walk up and start chatting to Jacqueline Craig and Ling Ramos, who know the kids by name.

"Most of the kids who come are within a five-minute walk," Craig said.

Typically, this portable only functions as an emergency food cupboard andbreakfast program during March Break and in the summer because the kids get breakfastat school during weekdays. LUSO Community Services host the program.

"The purpose of the program is to fill the gap of school food programs, where many of the children in the neighbourhood would have breakfast or snack every day," Craig said.

When CBC News visitedFriday, the kids were also picking up extra food for the weekend. A typical bag includes some fruit, a croissant, some yogurt and other snacks. Childrenwere also getting a flat of eggs for the family.

LastMarch Break, the program saw about 25 to 30 kids each morning. For the last seven weeks, Craig and her crew have been seeing between 60 and 80 children every morning.

"It's definitely growing as the weeks go on," she said.

A sense of routine

"It's really nicebecause lots of the families in the neighbourhood have many children, so they wake each other up or the whole sibling crew will come together and get their breakfast, or sometimes they take turns and let each other sleep in and one person will pick up for the whole family," said Craig.

"It's a nice opportunity for us to connect with them on a daily basis and check in."

The breakfast program also offers a sense of routine, especially at a time when, with school cancelled, there isn't much of one.

"We like to check-in, ask how their online school is going, what they're getting up to at home. The odd time they even challenge us to a physically distanced sprint down the sidewalk," Craig said. "We get lots of sentiments of boredom. We've also tried to create some literacy packages, with books and games, for the kids to take home."

The food is supplied through the London Food Coalition, and there is financial support from the community and theOntario Student Nutrition Program.In London, funds have been diverted from school breakfast programs to support community breakfast programs like LUSO's. The organization also receives support funding from the United Way Elgin-Middlesex and the City of London for its Basic Needs program.

"We are able to purchase what we need, which has been really helpful as our numbers continue to growbecause it's been a particularly hard time."

The breakfast program has been operating for almost 20 years.

These days, it serves families whose kids attend Lord Elgin Public School as well as others in the neighbourhood. Some families send an adult to pick up the food.

"The schools have been great supporters throughout all this. They're checking in which families virtually and reminding them that we're here and reminding the kids that we're here," Craig said.

Craig talks to some of the kids about their favourite television shows, video games they're playing and asks about their siblings and parents. She said she feels gratitude for the families she meets.

"It's been really refreshing to be able to interact with the children every morning because they have such a different perspective onthe world than we do," she said. "It's a nice break from the news to be able to come in and check in with them and hang out with them."

Abdo has been coming to pick up food on behalf of his family, which includes five boys and a mom and dad.

"They're helping us. They are making us happy. We come every day," he said.