That was until Mandurah’s Healthy Breakfast Club (HBC) came along in 2002, responding to the increasing number of students arriving at school without having had their breakfast.
Since its inception, the club has served up 1.5 million nutritious breakfasts to students in Mandurah and the Peel Region.
Dedicated volunteers serve close to 1500 breakfasts per week across 10 local schools.
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READ NOWThe City of Mandurah recognises the importance of giving kids the best start to the day.
Close to 150 staff members support the work of the Healthy Breakfast Club by donating a small part of their pay packets to the cause and enjoy ‘casual dress Fridays’ in return.
City chief executive Mark Newman said staff members were keen to support the club as it directly helped local students reach their potential.
“Having a healthy, hearty breakfast is something that’s easily taken for granted and unfortunately not all children get to have breakfast before going to school,” he said.
“The HBC goes a long way towards addressing this problem, and the City is very supportive of its efforts in helping our local kids.
“Many staff members have come on board with this program, and we can see that it has far-reaching, positive impacts in our community.”
The breakfast club, run by Lynn Rodgers and her team at WestAus Crisis, highlights the importance of eating a healthy breakfast for the best possible start to the school day, which in turn improves nutrition, learning abilities and reduces disruptive behaviour.
The program also educates students and parents about healthy eating habits.