RND kitchen reopens for Kingston's Food Sharing Project lunch program

The new food sharing hub will help prepare meals for up top 1,500 students a week.

A high school cafeteria is back to making meals for students.

The Food Sharing Project recently re-opened the kitchen inside Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School in Kingston for their "Lunch is Ready!" food sharing hub.

Mayor Bryan Paterson, Director of Education at Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board Carey Smith-Dewey, Vice-President, Community Impact, United Way serving KFL&A Kim Hockey, RND Vice-Principal Robin Dzierniejko, and a representative from Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen's office were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

Chair of the Food Sharing Project Brenda Moore says they were looking for a full-size kitchen that can handle their food preparation needs.

The Food Sharing Project began their Lunch is Ready program in 2025 after receiving federal funding. The City of Kingston contributed $37,600 to the project.

The hub will provide meals for Regi students two days a week, and meals for students at St Francis of Assisi Catholic School and Molly Brant Elementary School on Wednesdays and Fridays, all free of charge.

Moore says not every student that comes to school is properly fed.

Moore says they are also able to make meals that are suitable for everyone.

The new food hub at RND is expected to provide enough meals to feed 1,500 students a week.

Story by Ken Hashizume