My Account
Many of the older children lend a helping hand, and the breakfast club is now a popular hang-out for the kids before school starts.
Wellsford School had an extra guest for breakfast last week when the national relationship manager for Kickstart Breakfast, Kwain Auelua, dropped in.
Kwain travels the country checking in at the 861 schools that now implement the free breakfast programme and was impressed at the school’s number of volunteers.
“We find that smaller areas like Wellsford receive a high level of support,” Kwain says. “We struggle to find enough volunteers in areas like South Auckland, but that’s my job, to raise awareness and get the community involved.”
Wellsford School’s breakfast club feeds around 100 children every day with the help of 12 volunteers. Organiser, Marjolein Martin says it wouldn’t be possible to feed so many kids without their support.
“We’ve had lines going out the door, especially in winter time,” Marjolein says. “Kids need to be fed, and knowing that they are supported and loved makes them grow into better people.”
The breakfast club has the full support of principal Dave Bradley, who says several initiatives, including the breakfast club, have benefitted the school.
“We’ve had a dramatic improvement in attendance,” Mr Bradley says.
“We were aware that kids were staying home because they didn’t have breakfast or an appropriate school lunch. Teachers have also noticed that kids are more settled and attentive in class. It’s hard to focus on learning when you’re hungry.”
The initiative, which is backed by Sanitarium and Fonterra, has rapidly expanded after receiving Government funding in 2013. Wellsford School also receives bread and fruit from Joe Dodd, the local Four Square owner.
