The Starfish Pack Program started as a pilot project with 6 backpacks as a response to an Abbotsford teacher’s cry for help. She was feeding many of her Kindergarten students who were coming to school on Monday hungry. The hunger was affecting their moods and their ability to focus in class. This was not just an Abbotsford problem.

Many students across the province rely on school breakfast and lunch programs to fill their tummy’s on school days. When it comes to the weekend, they don’t have the food they need. Starfish Pack is design to help change that. Starfish provides backpacks with 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks to hungry students each weekend of the school year.

Teachers have reported improvements in children’s reading skills, math skills, and ability to focus and to do good work. Starfish has now expanded to over 20 cities now including Victoria with the help of the Harbourside Rotary Club and Fairway Markets. The program is helping make sure children across Greater Victoria do not have to worry about weekend hunger. In 2023, Rotary Harbourside is up to 100 packs weekly for kids. Fairway Market, key mandate is to support food insecurities in our communities.



Twice a year, the Starfish program runs at all Fairway Market to fundraise, we ask our community for support, all donations goes to help bellies filled and kids focussed in school. We thank you.