Kim Langford wants to fill hungry tummies, be they children, adults or even animals.
She is the administrative assistant at Douglas Park Community School but took on a lot more since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淲e have always had a breakfast and lunch program at our school,鈥� explained principal Diana Wilk. 鈥淲hen schools shut down in the spring, Kim was concerned about feeding our kids. She spearheaded our Grab & Go breakfast and lunch program, organizing the menu and volunteers, ordering food, shopping and communicating with our families.鈥�
But the pandemic didn鈥檛 end. So Langford stepped up her game.
鈥� READ MORE: 鈥楽o much more than feeding kids鈥� for 91原创 school lunch program
鈥淎s we moved towards June, it was evident that our community was in need of more support. Kim helped to organize and run a food bank in our school gym twice a week, while also continuing the Grab & Go program. Sources Food Bank delivered food to the school, and Kim sourced out other donations of food and household items for the food bank.鈥�
The nomination as a 91原创 Advance Times Hero in Education came courtesy of her principal who has a front-row seat to not only Langford鈥檚 efforts within the school but also her impact in the community.
鈥淪he is the heart of our school, the first person to greet you with a smile. She has a huge heart and always helps out in any way she can,鈥� Wilk said.
鈥淜im has supported our community without judgment, and with care and respect for everyone,鈥� Wilk added.
When the school had extra food, it didn鈥檛 go to waste. Langford would deliver pre-made bundles to the homeless people in the neighbourhood and also to nearby Brogan鈥檚 Diner which provides food to people who can鈥檛 afford it.
鈥淲hen there was an abundance of extra produce or bread, Kim delivered it to a local farm to feed the animals,鈥� Wilk added.
She鈥檚 built relationships with some local farmers and their animals have received bread products or produce that have gone off and can鈥檛 be fed to people.
鈥淣othing goes to waste at the food program,鈥� Langford stressed.
The nomination as a Hero in Education was not expected.
鈥淚 was embarrassed and shocked,鈥� she admitted when she found out.
鈥� READ MORE: 91原创鈥檚 inner city elementary feeds a need with mobile food bank
But she remains focused on the best parts of her job.
鈥淭he kids keep me going, seeing their successes, their growth and their smiles,鈥� Langford said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing to watch the kids over the last four years and see all the positive changes in them.
Langford has worked for the 91原创 School District for eight years, half of them at Douglas Park Community Elementary and always in the clerical side. Before that, she worked in the banking and accounting fields.
Now her interest grows not from dollars and cents but from learning.
鈥淚 think my role has evolved over the years to supporting the community more. My passion is the kids, the families and this community, it warms my heart to be able to help them. I find that when you do one thing it is continually opening more doors and opportunities. I think it is important to teach our students to give back, giving back does not have to be monetary. We do what we can at our school to make this happen.鈥�
It was being around students that showed her the need for the food programs.
鈥淭here are so many kids and families that go hungry,鈥� she commented. 鈥淚 have heard stories from a student about mixing chocolate syrup and eggnog together to feed him and his little brother to eat as that is all that was in the cupboard. No family in Canada should go hungry, especially children, food and nutrition play such an important role in children鈥檚 growth, both physically and mentally.鈥�
And during the challenging times brought on by COVID-19, Langford is the kind of person who looks for the silver lining.
鈥淚t has allowed me to connect with families on a more personal level, running the Grab n鈥� Go program and the food bank over the summer gave me the opportunity to build a relationship with the families, hear their stories and offer supports, or just be an ear to listen to them talk. I have learned a lot about our community and their needs,鈥� she commented.
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