Every idea and every story has a beginning. The Community Lunch Box Program began in 2004 when Tara Baker met a boy who didn’t have a lunch. From there, she and a small group of volunteers began to help out at schools in order to ensure that no student learned on an empty stomach. The idea caught on like wildfire and eventually encompassed six schools and two school divisions. The program now helps out at Storefront School, Little Big Fort, Boys & Girls Club and the Whitecour

Born in Red Deer, Alta., Jessica Watters moved to Whitecourt two years ago after living in Edmonton most of her life. She says she feels safer here and and likes the Whitecourt community. A woman of many talents, Jessica is a wonderful and pragmatic employee of the Community Lunch Box Program. “One good deed deserves another and the CLB is doing that. Pay it forward,” she says. “If I can make one child smile, I’m happy.” Jessica started working for the Community Lunch Box Pro

The Community Lunch Box Program has many more aspects than you might expect. It’s a growing, multifaceted business that has taken leaps over the past six years. Last week I profiled Eric Parent, who is an employee in the bottle business part of CLB. This week I sat down with Tara Rooks who is also a longtime CLB volunteer who first started working for the program in 2013. Tara Baker, the program coordinator, approached her with the idea of volunteering. Hesitant at first, Tar