SUNDRE — Being involved in the effort to ensure students receive the nutrition required to improve their health and education is near and dear to the Sundre Nutrition for Learning Society’s new executive director.
“Before COVID hit, I did volunteer at the schools to help prepare snacks,” said Lana Saunders, who earlier in January stepped into the role held previously by Carla Valentine since 2008.
Born and raised in Sundre, Saunders said both of her children are students at River Valley School, and that she wanted to play a part in providing healthy snacks for them and all the kids.
Along the way, she during her time as a volunteer came to see how valuable the program was at River Valley and called the experience eye opening.
“Just to see the reality of how much some kids really rely on Nutrition for Learning,” she said. “It kind of hit me hard that there are so many children that actually do come to school without nutritious food or a snack . . . you don’t realize it until you actually are there.”
So, being able to provide students at River Valley with snacks a couple of times a week felt like a worthwhile cause that she remained committed to until eventually stepping in as the society’s executive director.
With a prior administrative background operating her own safety consulting company since 2005, Saunders said she brings with her a level of experience in bookkeeping. But she added there are new elements as well and that she’s still learning the ropes with regards to for example grants — not only the application process that involves diligently filling out paperwork, but also researching what kinds of funding programs are available.
Saunders praised the foundation laid by her predecessor, who established a good system that she intends to maintain and without reinventing the wheel perhaps even add to where possible.
“Carla has done such a wonderful job over the years that she’s made it pretty easy so far to step into the role,” she said.
The new executive director also brings with her no shortage of past volunteer experience with local boards and groups — the 2022 Gulf Island Sailing Trip board president, the River Valley parent council board secretary, and a member at large on the Sundre Rec Hockey board.
Still early on in her new role, Saunders said her duties so far have primarily involved getting a handle on things.
“You’re always learning something new when you get into a new position, and I look forward to that,” she said, expressing gratitude not only for the opportunity to step into a stable program, but especially for the community’s support that’s ensured the program's continuity for more than 20 years.
“It’s just a great program to be involved in,” said Valentine, who after some 14 years with the organization felt the time to turn over a new leaf had come.
Additionally, bringing in somebody new with fresh ideas is always good, she said, expressing full confidence in Saunders’ ability to continue steering the ship steadily forward.
Not only has the program managed to stay afloat from a financial perspective, but the society was also able to expand the program over the years and even modify it as needed due to COVID-19, she said.
With both of her children having graduated from Sundre High School and now off chasing down other pursuits, Valentine said it was “just time to move on and simplify life a little — as much as you possibly can in this day and age.”
Now anticipating finding herself with more spare time, Valentine said with a laugh that she looks forward to doing “the things I’ve wanted to do for a while, now that the kids are moved out.”
That might include enjoying the chance to mount up and ride her horse again and take out the dogs for a walk in the evening.
“It’s just nice to get outside and back to nature and have that downtime,” she said.
