Hungry students enjoy free lunch

Last updated 05:00 11/05/2011

 

Pupils from an earthquake-damaged secondary school are being fed for free by a Christchurch church.

When Linwood College principal Margaret Paiti realised some pupils were coming to class hungry, she sought community support.

"Within the east side, our students are disadvantaged and families are disadvantaged and some students aren't coming to school with food," she said.

Pupils from the decile-two school have been forced to commute to afternoon classes at Cashmere High School since February's quake.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated $50,000 from its humanitarian fund to ensure the pupils had healthy lunches for the rest of the term.

Church member Melanie Riwai-Couch said it was nice to see an immediate benefit from the humanitarian fund.

Paiti said the church's support was "unbelievable".

Each pupil received a piece of fruit, a filled role and a sweet muffin or slice before travelling to their temporary site, she said.

Year 12 pupil Charlotte Scott-Lindfield, 16, said her classmates loved the free lunches.

"Some kids don't get the chance to bring their own food to school and we appreciate it so much," she said. "It helps us concentrate, and apples give us the brainpower to do stuff at school."