PICTOU - A well-travelled Nova Scotia singer-songwriter is picking up the torch from one of his late musical colleagues in the fight against child poverty and food insecurity in the province's schools.

Lyons Brook native Dave Gunning, a nine-time East Coast Music Award-winner and double JUNO nominee, has lent his name and his presence to the Dave Gunning Zero Hunger Fund. A project of the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia (RCFNS), the fund ties in to the organization's Free Store program. This initiative ensures that food is available to students whose families may be experiencing financial difficulties at home. 

Speaking from his Wee House of Music Studio in Pictou, Gunning suggested that the Free Store set-up is more accessible to many students than the traditional free meals currently provided by many schools. 

"It's different from the lunch programs and the breakfast programs, because it's a really discreet way to reach the students," Gunning explained. 

"The teachers...can take them by the hand, lead them to a room and take them to a cupboard where there's food. And what's beautiful about this program is that they can bring some food back for their whole family...It's actually helping to fight poverty within the homes."

Gunning was originally approached to take on the Zero Hunger Fund by its previous ambassador, Cape Breton troubadour Bruce Guthro, when cancer forced Guthro to sideline his performance schedule in August. The disease claimed Guthro only a month later, and Gunning is hoping his efforts can carry on his musical colleague's legacy while helping others. 

"I've got a pretty strong feeling that this could be the toughest winter in a long time,"  Gunning predicted. "People are going to be choosing between eating and staying warm, but this program is going to help a lot of people."

The executive director of the RCFNS, Penny Day, noted that the Free School program is already benefitting from Gunning's presence. Day pointed out that multiple donations to the Zero Hunger Fund are often made the day after a typical Gunning concert performance.

Originating in New Germany, Lunenburg County, the Free Store program is now targeted to appear in schools in Cape Breton and northeastern Nova Scotia in early 2024. Day explained that the foundation is still soliciting corporate and individual donations through the Zero Hunger Fund. It is her hope that the RCFNS can start bringing new schools online for the Free Store program in January.