Foodbank Variety School Lunch Program Providing More Than Food 

The Foodbank Variety School Lunch Program is providing South Australian school students experiencing food insecurity access to free nutritious lunches in the school environment. The program developed by Foodbank SA and Variety SA – the Children’s Charity of South Australia is providing thousands of school lunches each week to the most vulnerable school kids across the state. 

More than 80 schools are currently participating in the program with up to 4,000 of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged students expected to benefit from the program this year.  

Approximately 50% of these schools are metropolitan and 50% are regional and remote schools, with more than 4,000 students that will access the lunch program. More than 60% of the schools identified are from Category 1 or 2 but many other schools that have demonstrated unmet need for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in their school communities. 

“For a multitude of reasons, sometimes students come to school hungry, and this can impact on student performance at school. The Foodbank Variety School Lunch Program ensures no young person attending our school or partnership schools goes without a nutritious lunch. Additionally, the program seeks to involve these young people in the process of making their lunches which helps capacity building and means the program goes beyond just providing food for young people.”
– Elizabeth Vale Primary School.

The Foodbank Variety School Lunch Program provides more than food. This program has a positive impact on factors such as physical and mental health, social skills, concentration, behaviour, attendance and academic outcomes. The lunches are offered in discreet packaging and include a healthy recess and lunch (including fresh fruit). The program also helps to educate young people about the importance of healthy eating and provides them with nutritious lunches to help fill rumbling tummies. 

The Foodbank Variety School Lunch Program is an extension of more than 550 school programs including school breakfasts that Foodbank offer across the state. The program is open to those schools currently registered for the Foodbank SA School Breakfast Program that participated in the initial assessment.