Help sought to feed hungry kids

FILLING BELLIES: Kids Kai Time Charitable Trust founder Michelle Leslie.

Four years since catching her daughter sneaking food to her hungry school chums, Masterton's Michelle Leslie has been responsible for providing hundreds of Kiwi kids with a hearty lunch - with the help of some rugby legends.

But in order to keep filling young bellies, she needs some community support.

Ms Leslie is chief executive and founder of the Kids Kai Time Charitable Trust, dedicated to bringing nutritious breakfasts and lunches to low-decile schools.

Through Ms Leslie's own fundraising efforts, Kids Kai Time has provided lunch for Lakeview, St Mary's and Masterton Primary Schools, and Te Kura Kaupapa o Wairarapa, as well as schools in Porirua and South Auckland, with Hurricanes and Blues players hand-packing the kids' lunches.

But with money scarce, she is looking for other funding.

"I often see the kids from Lakeview in the street, and they say things like, 'Hey Miss, when are you coming around again?"' said Ms Leslie.

"It can be heartbreaking - we can't keep feeding these kids without people's support. At one point, I was able to bring packed lunches to Lakeview for five whole weeks. But the money ran out."

Ms Leslie is seeking venues for a Kids Kai Time charity store and "Swap Shop" where people can bring in their children's outgrown school uniforms and, for a small fee, get clothing in a bigger size.

She is also setting up an 0900 call centre to seek longer-term donations from the public.

"People around Masterton know what we do," said Ms Leslie. "So we're hoping people will buy from our shop, knowing their money will go straight to the kids."

Kids Kai Time is running a new initiative, Dome to Dish, which teaches children the benefits of growing their own food in dome greenhouses.

Inspired by Cannon's Creek School in Porirua, which is getting an onsite gardening dome, Ms Leslie is seeking funding for a similar dome at a Masterton primary school.

She has also partnered up with the students of Rathkeale College, who will be donating their old sporting equipment to lower decile schools in the community.

Ms Leslie said she started Kids Kai Time after her daughter Georgia confessed she was stealing food from home for the children of her school's "breakfast club", who were often coming to class hungry.

After four years, she said, there is still work to be done.

"Even when you've got both parents working, it's a struggle to feed our kids these days. You can't rely on Governments to take care of the problem. So it's up to us in the community to step up."

For more information on Kids Kai Time, or to make a donation, please contact Michelle Leslie on 027 456 7747 or kidskaitime@xtra.co.nz.