Eat a bagel and feed a child

Natalie Bercovici

“My son came home a changed kid with new confidence in himself that I have never seen. – Nancy.”

After a wonderful summer of camp adventures, the children and counsellors are home, tanned and rejuvenated. They cannot wait to go back – for many, camp is a home away from home. Since 2000, Generat ions Foundation has sponsored 2,700 children to go to summer camp. Thank you to everyone who made it possible for all those kids to have a summer they may not otherwise have been able to experience.

Now, a new school year has begun. Students are finding their way around, being taught by new teachers, stocking up on school supplies and new clothing – while exciting, it can be overwhelming for many children and parents.

At Generations Foundation, we are looking forward to our annual fundraising Back to School Bagel-o-Thon Breakfast, hosted by the Morena family of St. Viateur Bagel & Café on Monkland Ave. in NDG, Sept 10.

If you are unable to attend, tune in to Q92.5 from 5:30 to 9am; the station will be on location for the auction and other items of interest.

You’ll have many chances to win great prizes. You’ll also be able to meet Mike McLaughlin, well-known Montreal portrait and courtroom artist, at his canvas. We will introducing Elizabeth Hanley, the 15-year-old West Islander who will soothe you with her soulful voice. Elizabeth, a self-taught guitarist whose musical influences include The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Joss Stone, has performed and competed regionally.

Generations invites ever yone to enjoy a delicious and complete breakfast with a generous serving of fresh fruit and all the trimmings, a bagel of your choice, straight out the oven, and coffee. (Try the restaurant’s decadent café viennois.) Afterward, you may want to order a dozen or more bagels to take home. One hundred per cent of your purchase will boost the Generations Foundation food programs for schoolchildren and their families. So, when you bite into that bagel, you’ll feel even better knowing your purchase is also helping to feed a child. We hope to surpass last year’s Bagel-o-Thon total of $14,000.

The Back to School Bagel-o-Thon Breakfast takes place at St. Viateur Bagel & Café, 5629 Monkland in NDG, Thursday, September 10 from 5:30 to 10am.

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Our phones will soon be ringing off the hook with requests from professionals in the schools who will teach hungry and disheartened children who cannot learn properly. The professionals know first-hand what Generations Foundation can accomplish. We expect to provide nutritious breakfasts, lunches and snacks to approximately 6,500 children daily. Generous Montrealers can help.

Many children are bussed to and from schools in other districts. Generations works with professionals and volunteers to provide practical solutions to help students of all ages stay in school. Generations provides the necessities for cooking classes to boost the students’ morale and skills. Leadership students are involved in meal planning, preparation, serving and cleaning up.

Many students benefit from our food programs: mentally and physically challenged students as well as those from dysfunctional families and those whose parents struggle day to day to make ends meet.

Generations provides refreshments are for sports activities run by the police or community centres.

The need for Generations Foundation services is increasing. To learn more, please visit our website at www.generationsfoundation.com or call us at 514-933-8585.