Volunteers wanted for breakfast club

Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist for a few hours each morning with the Ettalong Public School Good Start Breakfast Club.

Good Start Breakfast Clubs are run by Red Cross to provide nutritious morning meals for children who might otherwise go without.

The first Red Cross Good Start Breakfast Club was established in the Hunter Region in 1991.

The program has since expanded to every State and Territory in Australia with 2000 volunteers now providing 800,000 breakfasts each year in 250 schools.

Red Cross youth programs project officer Ms Celeste Yarnold said: "Up to a quarter of Australian kids miss out on breakfast and begin their school day distracted and hungry.

"Our breakfast clubs teach kids about healthy eating and give them important life skills they can hopefully pass down to their own children one day.

"Kids need a good breakfast and the Good Start Breakfast Club program has been shown to increase concentration from children in class, improve school behaviour, attendance rates and punctuality, and increase the sense of community within a school.

"It has also been shown to reduce crime in highly disadvantaged areas.

"Volunteers are the backbone of the Good Start Breakfast program" said Ms Yarnold.

"Without their commitment and support, the program would just not be possible".

For more information about the Good Start Breakfast program or to enquire about becoming a volunteer call Celeste on 4324 3411.

Media Release, 27 Oct 2011 Bruce Wardley, Red Cross