Our hungry kids: 130 sponsors sign up to feed children

Dianne, 5, tucks into a breakfast at the home of Angels Light founder Bronca Fox. Photo / Steven McNicholl

More than 100 Herald readers have signed up to pay $15 a month to sponsor hungry children in response to this week's campaign on the issue.

KidsCan chief executive Julie Helson said the 130 who signed up by 5pm yesterday included several from overseas.

"We've had one from Norway, which obviously at this time is interesting and very gratefully received," she said.

"It's really quite exciting. It blows me away, the power of the written word."

But online readers were split in a poll on whether the Government should underwrite breakfast programmes in decile 1 and 2 primary and intermediate schools - 51 per cent of 13,000 people who responded said "yes", and 49 per cent said "no".

Meanwhile Auckland accounting firm Gilligan Rowe and Associates will donate the proceeds from Vibe 2011, a motivational event for women next month, to the Angels Light breakfast programme founded by Takanini mother of five Bronca Fox.

Gilligan Rowe partner Janet Xuccoa said 350 women were expected to pay $55 each to attend. Her firm will top up the proceeds to $15,000 to enable Angels Light to expand its breakfasts to five days a week at its five schools.

"If you don't feed them breakfast they don't learn, and the big kids beat up the younger kids, and ... pretty soon they're 22-year-olds and they're doing armed robberies."

Seven readers have also volunteered to help serve Angels Light breakfasts. Mrs Fox is still looking for more; call her on (09) 296-2699.

What you can do

Sponsor a hungry child for 50c a day.
(to help provide the basics they're missing out on.)
kidscan.org.nz

Donate to Salvation Army food banks.
salvationarmy.org.nz

Donate to Auckland City Mission winter appeal.
(you can text help to 305 to instantly donate $3.)
aucklandcitymission.org.nz

Use your business or community group to feed hungry kids in your local school or community.