Brekkie club on the up
Providing kids with breakfast
A BREAKFAST club at Centenary Heights State High School, that aims to provide some of the school community’s most vulnerable kids with breakfast, has exploded in popularity.
The club, which is run by the Rangeville Community Church, serves 12,000 breakfasts each year.
Volunteer Elizabeth Heaton said the club originally started at the school in 2006 and had grown from serving about 20 students a week to 150 students a week. It is now run twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
She said the club was to help kids who for some reason could not have breakfast at home.
“But we are happy to feed everyone who comes so those who really need it don’t feel stigmatised,” she said.
Year 7 students Mikela Mcgavin and Georgia Say said they both like coming to the club during the week.
“Vegemite on toast is my favourite,” Mikela said.
Year 9 student Luis Hobson said he came to the club every week.
“It’s good food, it’s a good brekkie,” Luis said.
Centenary Heights State School Deputy Principal Jim Brennan thanked the volunteers for making students a priority.
“The breakfast club at Centenary Heights State High School is a wonderful example of community working together to meet the needs of children and in doing so gives students the best possible start to their day,” Mr Brennan said.
Deb’s Bakery donates 9000 loaves of bread to the club every year.
Toowoomba South David Janetzki MP said he had provided some funding to the club through his Local Hero grants program.
“More than two-thirds of Australian teachers report that children are coming to school hungry and that results in poor concentration and disruptive behaviour in class,” Mr Janetzki said.
“The breakfast club is an excellent program run by 28 volunteers who are making sure children here at Centenary are starting the day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast.”