The Lunch Bunch

Labour list MP Kiri Allan gets a firsthand experience of packing lunches as part of the Gizzy School Lunches initiative. The Government last week announced a free lunch programme to be rolled out next year and Ms Allan was keen to see the operation of GSL, which has been providing free lunches locally for four-and-a-half years. From left are GSL manager Cherith Evans, volunteer Sister Tunna, Ms Allan and volunteer coordinator Alena Swannell. Picture by Liam Clayton

The “experts” at Gizzy School Lunches met with Labour MP Kiri Allan this week to show her how it is done.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week announced that children in 30 primary and intermediate schools will begin receiving a free lunch every school day from term one next year.

Ms Allan said she wanted to get a briefing of how GSL operates as it has been providing 250 lunches in 32 schools in this region for four-and-a-half years.

“The Government has made an announcement that we are going to be providing some schools with lunches and we are rolling out the trial now.

“I am wanting to look at established providers and understand how people are doing it successfully.

“Rolling out free lunches to schools can come with a stigma and that can create other issues, so we are looking at how we can destigmatise initiatives.

“I’m really interested in talking about these issues with experts operating in this field,” she said.

Ms Allan was also interested in learning about the GSL infrastructure.

GSL Manager Cherith Evans, volunteer coordinator Alena Swannell and trustees Huia White and Belinda Mackay showed her around the GSL base at Toll New Zealand Gisborne in Grey Street.

Ms Allan was questioned by some of the volunteers about how the national initiative could impact on them.

She explained it to the volunteers and commended them on the work they were doing in the community.

“Feeding the kids is the main goal,” Ms Allan said.

GSL manager Cherith Evans asked how this programme could help their organisation.

Ms Allan said there would be a lot of opportunities for organisations like GSL that had been at the forefront of this issue.

“We know we are only scratching the top of the iceberg with what we are doing,” Ms Evans said.

“We already send lunches into high schools but we know the need is greater than what we are currently supplying.”

Ms Allan said the ultimate goal was to feed every kid from kindergarten to high school level.

GSL has been getting feedback from the kids, volunteers, and office staff at schools.

“It’s really valuable feedback to know how the schools are being impacted on by the lunches,” Ms Evans said.

“Because of this government announcement, we’re going to be talking with schools as to how we can work with them when the roll-out of the scheme begins,” Belinda Mackay said.

GSL is a not-for-profit organisation, which means the funding comes from donations and sponsors.