Kura filling empty tummies
A Taranaki kura is relieved its staff no longer have to buy students food out of their own pocket after receiving funding.
Tumuaki o Te Pi’ipi’inga Ka¯kano Mai i Rangia¯tea Kura Kaupapa Ma¯ori is one of two Taranaki schools being given support from charity KidsCan, which is supplying the school with food, shoes, jackets and sanitary items.
Principal Tessa-Moana Kake-Tuffley said she’d already seen a difference in her students.
‘‘I’ve just seen the change in our tamariki just being full,’’ she said. ‘‘Our staff don’t need to go to Countdown and purchase kai for the tamariki out of our own pockets. We’re so thankful.’’
There are 110 students who attend the kura and some wha¯nau are unable to provide breakfast and lunch for their children. The situation only got worse after Covid-19, as some parents lost their jobs. ‘‘It was quite a sad time,’’ Kake-Tuffley said.
‘‘Tamariki should always be fed and that makes for a better learner and it prepares them for the day.’’
Kake-Tuffley said the KidsCan funding gave the school the ability to support not only the kids, but take pressure off their wha¯nau as well.
‘‘If all the tamariki are wearing the same shoes, same jacket and eating the same kai, then there’s no reason for them to feel whakama, ashamed.
‘‘It means our tamariki can focus on
‘‘For some children, the food they receive at school or kindy is their main nutrition for the day.’’
Julie Chapman
KidsCan chief executive
school work.’’
KidsCan is feeding 40,000 Kiwi children a day and has sent 1160 tonnes of food from its warehouse this year.
KidsCan chief executive Julie Chapman said Covid was still hitting vulnerable families hard.
Chapman said she’d heard of teachers baking, making sandwiches and even stews using their own money and op shopping for clothes.
‘‘For some children, the food they receive at school or kindy is their main nutrition for the day.
‘‘Their parents are doing their best, but with job losses and income cuts on top of high rent and food prices, there are days when the food runs out.’’