A vital school breakfast program has been given a helping hand this week.
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Volunteers from the Breakfast Club at Bega Valley Primary School were delighted to welcome a new addition to their ranks – a Beko refrigerator.
The club runs every weekday at the school and ensures that many children who wouldn’t normally eat breakfast get a good, healthy start to the day.
From humble beginnings on a few chairs on the Year 6 verandah, it now has an allocated room at the school with a small kitchenette and seating.
All that was missing was a decent fridge – but now that takes pride of place in the corner thanks to fundraising by BVPS pupils and a generous donation by Bega’s Betta Electrical.
Pupils raised money through a Red Cross “wear red” day but the gold coin donations still didn’t add up to a new fridge.
After hearing about the breakfast club, Betta put in the rest of the money and delivered the fridge this week.
“It’s good when a local business can help out a local cause,” Chris Halligan from Betta Electrical said.
At a school assembly on Monday, BVPS acting principal Mark Farrell thanked Betta and presented breakfast club volunteers Daphne Sweeney and Helen Slater with a booklet of thanks, signed by every pupil in the school.
Ms Sweeney has just retired from the club but was its first member over 10 years ago.
“I get a real thrill seeing the children and watching them grow up at the school,” she said.
“Having a decent brekkie really sets them up for the day.”
Ms Slater has been volunteering for 10 years and said she looks forward to her mornings at the club.
“I enjoy doing this and I think it teaches the children a lot about cooperation and manners while they are at the club,” she said.
BVPS teacher and P&C representative Sally Benedyka said it was crucial for children to eat breakfast before school.
“It obviously improves concentration, so it’s beneficial for the children and teachers, but also it really gives the children a sense that people care about them and it’s important for them to know that,” she said.
Ms Sweeney said there are 12 regular volunteers helping at the breakfast club and although she is meant to be retired she still can’t help but put up her hand if they are short.
The Red Cross supplies the cereal and all the other breakfast supplies come from St John’s Anglican Church.
Ms Slater said the group always keen for more volunteers and anyone interested can contact Breakfast Club coordinator Steph Stanhope at the St John’s office on 6492 5555.