Free lunches help Murray Bridge primary schoolers reach their potential

At Murray Bridge South and Fraser Park, Wednesday is free lunch day.

Throughout term one, local supermarket Drakes has been providing lunches for around 300 children at the two primary schools, free of charge.

Each student gets a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a packet of popcorn.

It’s such a simple program, but – given many families’ struggles with the high cost of living – South School principal Michelle Shepherd said its impact has been huge.

“We’ve noticed the difference in our attendance on Wednesdays, when we have the lunch program,” she said.

“It takes the pressure off households.

“We’ve had parents say that’s one less thing for them to think about, so they can think about other things around the house on that day.

“Kids are trying new foods, too: turkey sandwiches, popcorn, fruit like plums that most of these kids wouldn’t have tried before.”

Canteen manager Annette Thomson said she had parents phoning her, asking: “Is it Drakes day today?”

“A lot of kids don’t get an opportunity to get lunch orders,” she said.

“For them, (getting a lunch delivery) is like that.”

Excitement overflowed from the canteen and around the school on Wednesday as Drakes Supermarkets director J.P. Drake, state Education Minister Blair Boyer and Autism Minister Emily Bourke came to help hand out meals.

Year 5 and 6 students bid the visitors nguldi arndu, welcome, to the Ngarrindjeri language room, where sandwiches and snacks disappeared from their baskets in a matter of moments.

Elliot Matheson said he and his classmates loved getting lunch delivered every week.

“It’s kind of good,” he said.

“I like the food and it’s very convenient.”

So far, Drakes has been covering the cost of the lunches: around $1800 per week, all up.

Mr Drake announced this week that the supermarket would keep the program going throughout term two.

In the longer term, he hoped the state government might come to the party with some funding; but in the meantime, it was still worthwhile.

“If we break even, we’ll be happy,” he said.

“Feeding these kids, getting them healthy, getting them full so their retention’s better, and the fact that in Murray Bridge we’ve got a store here (is enough).”

“I think there’s lots of pockets (around South Australia) where this would work.”

At a time of community need, every kind act counts.

Correction: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect surname for the school principal.