Donations and support offered to woman who makes lunches for schoolchildren

Lisa Richards is overwhelmed by the support she has received for making lunches for school children. Photo/John Stone

A Whangarei woman making hundreds of school lunches for children in need is overwhelmed by the support she has received.

It was the hardship Lisa Richards faced when raising her four children which inspired her to want to help those who are struggling now.

Now the Hikurangi woman makes up to 200 lunches a week for Whangarei schoolchildren.
Ms Richards appeared in the Northern Advocate earlier this month after her daughter told us she was making lunches for Hikurangi School and Whau Valley School.

Since then she has received several words of support and donations from people who read the story.

"I want to say thank you to everyone who jumped on board. The support had been overwhelming. I didn't think all of this would happen."

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Ms Richards, who is also involved with Love Soup Whangarei, said at least 20 people had joined the Love Soup Whangarei Facebook group to see how they could help.

She said the founder of Love Soup, a group to feed the homeless which originated in Rotorua, met her in Dargaville and brought a box of pumpkins and other school lunch items for her.

Ms Richards said bottles of water had also been donated.

"I'm keen to make the school lunches healthier. I figured kids are already energetic they don't need the sugar in juice."

Ms Richards said she had also received messages from people in the community keen to help out.

But support hasn't only been offered in the form of donations. Hush Beauty Spa in Hikurangi offered Ms Richards a free treatment and spa.

If you're keen to find out how to help contact Ms Richards on 433 7640.