One out of every six children in our schools lives with poverty and its impact. (Report Card on Child Poverty in Ontario, p.1) That means that their parents or caregivers struggle every day to find enough money to meet the basic costs of living: food, housing, and heating. Research shows that children in low-income families have poorer physical health and suffer the effects of poorer nutrition than children in higher-income families. Poor parental health can put these children at a disadvantage even before they are born (e.g., resulting in early difficulties such as low birth weight). When students are dealing with poverty, they can end up excluded from important parts of school life, and they can feel that they do not fit in with other members of the school community. They may face more physical and mental stress and are more likely to be hospitalized and suffer from dental problems. If they come from families who are working poor or otherwise in precarious employment, these difficulties are compounded by lack of benefits.