Schools getting help to feed hungry kids

Two more Taranaki schools have joined a government scheme to give children a daily ration of fruit.

Eltham School and Te Kura O Nga Ruahine Rangi, at Mangatoki, are now receiving twice-weekly deliveries for all of their students through The Ministry of Health’s fruit in schools programme.

There are 547 schools involved in the scheme throughout the country, including 15 in Taranaki where 1817 children are involved.

‘‘We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the programme,’’ Eltham School principal Kathryn Pick said.

The fruit, along with milk and breakfasts provided by other schemes, is making a big difference for some of the 158 children at the decile two school.

‘‘Staff have noticed a change in the children’s behaviour; they’re more settled and able to concentrate. It’s very worthwhile. We have children here who don’t come to school with a lunch and some who don’t have breakfast before they come, it is their meal.’’

Hungry children became restless and disruptive in class, she said.

Some of the teachers had been buying food for children before the programmes started.

‘‘Some of the kids here really appreciate it and as a staff we really appreciate it; we know that our kids are getting some good value food with good nutrition.’’

The programme began in 2005 but was recently expanded when changing decile funding by the Ministry of Education made more schools eligible.

Fonterra’s Milk For Schools scheme provides milk to 57 schools in Taranaki. The Kickstart Breakfast programme, a partnership between Fonterra, Sanitarium and the Ministry of Social Devel- opment, provides breakfasts for children at 34 Taranaki schools.

Ramanui School principal Kathryn Moss said support from the groups helped to create a level playing field for all students, no matter what their background.

Students at the school received fruit, milk and breakfast foods from the three programmes. Another organisation, KidsCan, provided shoes, jackets and items like sunscreen and nit treatments for some who needed them.

‘‘For me it means all the children have the same start, they have all had breakfast, they’ve got full tummies and they are ready to learn.’’

There were many reasons why children arrived at school hungry, Rochelle Steer, founder of Hawera’s Kai KItchen, said.

Steer, who delivered between 30 and 40 lunches to schools in South Taranaki each day, said children who arrived without breakfast usually had no lunch either.

The programmes providing fruit and milk and breakfast were helping some children who really needed it, she said.

‘‘I don’t think it’s a new problem. Kids can’t learn on an empty tummy. There are lots and lots of reasons why children are arriving at school without food.

‘‘Sometimes it can be circumstances that are out of a parent’s control. It is never the child’s fault.’’