PAK’nSAVE Whangārei Boosts Tikipunga Primary School Breakfast Club
“It’s great to be part of something bigger than any one of us. Support starts with kids because, at the end of the day, they are our future. Children don’t have the choices that adults do, and we love being able to help provide healthy kai,” Lillian Leathem - PAK'n'SAVE Whangārei.
Tikipunga Primary School’s Breakfast Club recently welcomed some special visitors when the team from PAK’nSAVE Whangārei dropped in to help out. Once word spread, a record 71 tamariki came through the doors for a hearty start to the day, which included Year 1-2 Navigator Naomi Bromberg’s (Whaea Gnomes) famous homemade muffins and fresh fruit and yoghurt generously brought along by the PAK’nSAVE crew.
Every morning at 7.30am, Whaea Gnomes and her dedicated volunteers set up the space, ready to welcome students with a smile and a sense of belonging. On colder days the numbers rise, but on average around 50 tamariki come through for a range of kai from toast, to Weet-Bix, and fruit cups.
The incredible volunteers also pitch in with spreads, and one couple even donated a Zip toaster, which Whaea Gnomes said becomes essential during the cooler months.
PAK’nSAVE co-owner Lillian says she first heard about I Have a Dream 10 years ago at a community event where former CEO, Ant Backhouse, spoke about the programme. Since then Todd and Lillian have been great supporters of I Have a Dream and for the past seven years PAK’nSAVE has supported the Navigators to purchase supplies for their programmes.
Lillian said supporting I Have a Dream for the past decade has been a privilege.
“It’s great to be part of something bigger than any one of us. Support starts with kids because, at the end of the day, they are our future. Children don’t have the choices that adults do, and we love being able to help provide healthy kai.”
The annual PAK’nSAVE support will now be directed toward supplying the I Have a Dream Holiday Programme and strengthening the Tikipunga Primary Breakfast Club, which currently receives cereals and toast from KickStart Breakfast and KidsCan. After running Breakfast Club for the past three years, Whaea Gnomes said they need to top up supplies each month, so this support will make a meaningful difference.
Lillian said the new focus will ensure the Breakfast Club has consistent, reliable access to the kai it needs. This strengthened support from PAK’nSAVE will help ensure the Breakfast Club remains sustainable and can continue offering nutritious, appealing options for the tamariki who enjoy sharing kai together each morning.
