Parents Engaged in Education - by Councillor Paul Ainslie, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie

It became apparent that there was a need for a more permanent source of supply of materials that children/teens can access to prepare them to learn and to support their mental health. A gap became clear, they have all been aware of the need for food banks to feed students bodies, but the gap to feed their minds and spirits has grown wider every week. Children are falling through the cracks and are suffering in the process as parents are left with a choice of feeding their children or supplying them with much needed school resources. There has been an increase of 600 percent in requests for support in the last two weeks alone. Parents Engaged In Education has served 275 families and 435 children in the last two weeks (April 12 - 28) with more requests every day. The families accessing the resources are from across the Greater Toronto Area, including Jane and Finch, Regent Park, Dorset Park etc. Of course, the high needs areas of Scarborough see the most traffic where they are serving Malvern, West Hill, Orton Park, Mornelle Court, Danzig, Tuxedo Court to name just a few. Partnerships with corporate Canada has brought in more than $600,000. since last summer, but financial support has been minimal and has now created a huge gap. It is estimated that $200,000. 00 is required to fund this project for an entire year. During the lock down, families are accessing materials through a curb side pickup and delivery. Students select what they need through a google form link from the website www.educationbank.ca

Social Development Finance Administration to work with the Provincial Government and the Provincial Ministry of Education to secure financial support for Parents Engaged in Education.