Free lunches a hit with Dannevirke South School students

South School seniors generally like the variety and content of lunch.

When free lunches started arriving at Dannevirke South School as the school year began the reception from the students was full of curiosity, excitement and a deal of scepticism – they were different!

Not just different from what they had all gone to school with up until now, but different every day!

South School new entrants are getting used to their new lunches.

Supplied by Libelle Group the lunches arrive at South School in large plastic containers one for each class with specific dietary and cultural needs met according to the information supplied by the school.

The same experience has been shared with the other Dannevirke primary schools - Huia Range, St Josephs, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori of Tamaki Nui A Rua, Papatawa, Totara College and Dannevirke High School (not supplied by Libelle).

Libelle has been a preferred supplier for the Healthy Lunch in Schools programme from the very beginning in February 2020. The key thing they have learned from working with partnering schools is that there is no single, one-size-fits all solution. Every school is different and needs a carefully tailored solution.

The Libelle team of locals work from 8am until mid-afternoon creating nearly 900 lunches from supplies delivered from Palmerston North although area co-ordinator Jay Chard says they are looking for a local supplier. She is also looking for a business to recycle 4500 containers made of sugarcane fibre per week. They would make excellent planter boxes.

Principal of South School Stephen Snell says the programme has been working well so far at his school. Each child's lunch is supplied in a biodegradable container and everything left over is collected by the supplier to be processed sustainably.

South School Principal Snell says the whole programme has lots of advantages:

• • Every child has a healthy lunch
• • The amount of waste has diminished in the school substantially
• • There is always enough food with children absent meaning there is an option for seconds
• • Locals are employed supplying the service
• • The children enjoy the lunches