KidsCan dismisses $11million budget to feed hungry children

KidsCan dismisses $11million budget to feed hungry children

May 27, 2011 - The KidsCan Charitable Trust dismisses the notion that it would take $11million a year to feed New Zealand children in low decile schools as reported by the Child Poverty Action Group.

KidsCan CEO, Julie Helson, says, “I challenge the idea that it would cost $11 million dollars to feed hungry children in Decile 1 and 2 schools. We believe that we can provide food for all New Zealand children in Decile 1 to Decile 4 primary and intermediate schools for an additional $2.5 million annually on top of what we already receive from sponsors and the Ministry of Social Development”.

KidsCan currently runs a program in 201 low decile primary and intermediate schools nationwide, providing nutritious food for tens of thousands of New Zealand children who would otherwise go hungry each week. The programme has perfected its processes over the past five years and is subsequently run cost effectively and efficiently thanks to KidsCan’s strong volunteer database, school support and the food and distribution networks that have been set in place.

“The government support we have been receiving over the last three years assists us with feeding 10,000 school children per week, with a further injection of support we could do a lot more!” explains Helson.

Instead of reinventing the wheel it makes more sense for businesses, community groups and the government to look at increased funding of programmes like ours that already have a proven track record. We have been approached by schools that were part of the Red Cross programme and we are currently looking at how we can assist them on an on-going basis. We applaud Countdown for their contribution and feel they are being unfairly targeted. We invite all New Zealanders to look at what is really going on ‘In our own backyard’ and ascertain how they might contribute.”

KidsCan recently announced the launch of ‘In Our Own Backyard’, New Zealand’s first child sponsorship programme. Introduced as a direct response to the increasing levels of child poverty happening in our own backyards, the programme enables caring Kiwis to offer on-going financial support to disadvantaged Kiwi children, one hundred percent of all donations will be used to provide the basics children are missing out on such as, warm clothing, shoes, food at school, basic stationery packs and hygiene items. It costs less than 50 cents a day and 100% of donations go to the kids.

To sign up to become a supporter, please visit www.kidscan.org.nz. Just $15 a month provides the basics for a child less fortunate and 100% of the monthly donations benefit New Zealand children in need.

ENDS

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