Katikati Primary School Seeks Sponsor to Save Breakfast and Lunch Programmes
Katikati Primary School is urgently searching for a new sponsor after losing funding for its breakfast club and lunch pack schemes, which have supported hundreds of students. Because the school does not qualify for the Government's Healthy School Lunches programme, it has relied on community backing — most recently from Apata Group Ltd — to keep the initiatives running. Principal Andrea Nicholson says without a new sponsor, the future of these programmes is uncertain.
The breakfast club runs three mornings a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday — and gets through roughly 16 loaves of bread each day. Volunteers serve up toast with a range of toppings including avocado, home-made jam, Vegemite and peanut butter, and any hungry child is welcome to come along. Around 20 lunches are packed daily, each containing a sandwich, fruit, yoghurt, raisins and a muesli bar.
Nicholson paid tribute to the volunteer team, some of whom have given their time for over 18 years. She is calling on local businesses and community members to step forward as sponsors, saying financial support of any size would make a direct difference to the wellbeing and learning of Katikati's children. Anyone interested can contact the school on 07 549 0105 or email kkpsaccounts@katikati.school.nz.
Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).