P&N Bank's 2022 Happy Bellies fundraising appeal supporting local not-for-profit and P&N Bank community partner, Manna, and their School Breakfast Program saw over $20,000 donated to feed hungry Perth kids.
Food relief charity Manna distributes 5,000 breakfast meals to primary and secondary school students in need throughout Perth, every week. The food is provided to 50 schools for their breakfast programs run by school chaplains and parent volunteers.
As a non-government funded charity, Manna relies solely on the generosity of West Australians to continue their relief work in the community.
Donations made to the inaugral 2021 appeal meant Manna was able to feed thousands of hungry Perth students and add 14 new schools to the program.
Funds raised will directly help Manna continue to provide breakfasts to hungry students throughout 2023.
Manna Board Chair, Damian Burton, said the continuation of the School Breakfast Program and trial of a new lunch program had been made possible through the support of P&N Bank and its customers.
“School principals and teachers have seen an increase in the attendance and provision of their food relief programs, either through emergency school lunches or their breakfast clubs, and have praised the success of the outcomes in classroom teaching and, most importantly, student welfare and engagement,” Mr Burton said.
“We really appreciate the continued support of P&N and its members, which will help us give even more kids an opportunity to start the day right so they can focus on school.
“Food insecurity is associated with poor developmental outcomes in children, including impaired social skills and reading difficulties, so by providing breakfast to kids we hope to improve their concentration, attention, comprehension and memory.
“The benefits also extend to the wider class, with less disruption and more learning time, and engaged participation.”
Did you know?
- In the schools Manna supplies breakfast to, over 50% of the schools’ populations are impacted by one or more of: family domestic violence, generational poverty, unemployment or substance use, all of which are the main contributing factors to poverty and homelessness.
- More than one in five children in WA are living in a food insecure household (Foodbank).
- Over 240,000 children in Western Australia are experiencing poverty and living in a situation where they might not get three full meals per day (WACOSS).
- WA has the third highest rate of child poverty in the nation (Anglicare and Ngala, 2021).
- Food insecurity is associated with poor developmental outcomes in children, including impaired social skills and reading difficulties.
- Manna supply over two tonnes of food to schools every week, including 300 loaves of bread.
- By providing breakfast to kids, it can improve their concentration, attention, comprehension and memory. The benefits also extend to the wider class, with less disruption and more learning time, and engaged participation.