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How Brekkie Club became a vital recovery hub
The first few weeks of a new school year can be hard – getting to know your new classmates and your teachers and getting back into the habit of homework and study.
But for the students at 29 Victorian schools from Cobram to Lorne, the start of the school year has been even more challenging. Many of these kids, their families and their friends are still feeling the devastating effects of the January bushfires that burned more than 400,000 hectares across the state – an area five times the size of Singapore.
To support these school communities, Foodbank’s School Breakfast Clubs Program, run with the Victorian Government, is providing additional food relief. All schools impacted by bushfires are being offered School Breakfast Club supplies and have been invited to order additional take-home food packs that provide nourishment to students and their families after the school day ends.
Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara says: “Foodbank is proud to deliver this vital program, providing healthy meals to kids and their families who need a bit of extra support right now, as part of our broader bushfire relief and recovery response.”
Foodbank Victoria’s breakfast clubs began as a way to assist families affected by the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. “We put fridges in schools and we delivered fresh produce,” recalls Dave. “We did milk runs with vans and bought some breakfast products: UHT milk, cereal, bread. It was pretty basic, but it made a real difference.”
With the support of the state government, the School Breakfast Clubs Program was officially launched in 2016. Today, students in more than 1,300 primary and secondary schools have access to a healthy, nourishing breakfast.
“The School Breakfast Clubs Program provides more than just nutritious food – it improves concentration and learning outcomes, builds social skills, improves attendance, and it’s a fun way to start the day with friends,” says Dave.
“I think it’s one of the best assets Victoria has, because it ensures the possibility of a bright future for all Victorian kids.”
