Volunteers deliver over a quarter-million lunches for Lunch Connection

Over the course of six years, volunteers from seven J.D. Irving, Limited businesses dedicated time each week to help ensure hundreds of local students had the food they needed to succeed in school, one lunch at a time.

Part of the Lunch Connection program that supplied students with healthy lunches throughout the school year, at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, that total reached 270,676 lunches delivered.

Launched in 1989 by Saint John Inner City Youth Ministry, Lunch Connection initially served students within a couple of local schools. In 2020, the program switched to a centralized delivery model, enabling Lunch Connection to reach more students at more schools.

Through this switch and thanks to a partnership between Inner City Youth Ministry, Anglophone School District South, the Government of New Brunswick, PALS (Partners Assisting Local Schools) and community volunteers, Lunch Connection grew to serve up to 15 schools across the Saint John region.

Of course, a delivery program wouldn’t be possible without delivery drivers. Through PALS, volunteer drivers from Gulf Operators, Harbour Development, Irving Equipment, Kent Line, NB Southern Railway, Universal Truck and Trailer and the Saint John head office Finance team made sure deliveries happened on time and in the right place with a smile.

With the upcoming launch of the New Brunswick School Lunch program, Lunch Connection has been phased out, leaving time for reflection on the program’s meaningful mission and the dedication of its many volunteers. From every hand that prepared meals, packed them in handmade bags and delivered them to schools, Lunch Connection played a vital role in helping kids receive the nutrition they need to learn and grow.

“Lunch Connection is incredibly grateful for our partnership with PALS and JDI. Without the support of our partners at JDI, Lunch Connection would not have been as successful as it was,” said Bonnie Hunt, Executive Director of Inner City Youth Ministry.

“We are especially thankful for these dedicated drivers, who came day after day, no matter the weather, to make sure every lunch bag arrived at the schools safely and on time for the children to enjoy their lunches.”