Overview

It is a well-known fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For a number of reasons a significant number of children attend school without breakfast. Y-Care in partnership with Education Queensland, Foodbank Queensland and the Clem Jones Group commenced the YMCA Schools’ Breakfast Program with five state schools in September 2006.

The program today provides over 16,000 free breakfasts each month to school students across 26 schools in the Logan and South Brisbane Region. The benefit of this program is that students commence the school day after a healthy breakfast that contributes to more effective learning, which is so critical to students’ educational success and performance at school.

Approximate Number of Free Breakfast Served

• 21,916 across five schools during 2006
• 105,575 across 19 schools during 2007
• 147,504 across 24 schools during 2008
• 148,416 across 26 schools during 2009

Program Effectiveness

The program is effectively providing children from low income families with nutritious breakfasts that have desired levels of key nutrients and energy essential to development. Participating schools have reported improvements in student’s attendance, behavior, socialization and concentration in class for those students who have received a nutritious breakfast p rior to commencing school. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the Breakfast Program, a survey was sent to all participating schools in November 2009. Of those that participated in the survey 96% rated the program as effective, 78% confirming the program has had a positive impact on student behaviors and 100% rated the Breakfast program as being beneficial.

The YMCA Schools Breakfast Program is dedicated to ensuring that no child is denied the opportunity to enjoy breakfast at the participating schools. The schools fully operated by the YMCA comply with the Queensland Government’s Smart Choices – Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools

Volunteers

Volunteers are crucial to the successful running of the YMCA Schools’ Breakfast Program. Over 100 volunteers collectively dedicate over 160 hours per week within in the 26 school within the program. These volunteer numbers and hours do not include the school chaplains, numerous teachers and students who also assist with the serving of breakfast.

Sponsors and Supporters

On behalf of the YMCA, participating schools and children, we would like to thank our very generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers who have contributed significantly to the programs success. Thank you so much.

Click here for more information on how our sponsors support us