Covid-19: Children 'to miss out' as lockdown cuts off food-in-schools programmes

Wednesday, 25 August 2021

KidsCan CEO and founder Julie Chapman said her organisation alone fed as many as 40,000 children a day in New Zealand schools, a source of food no longer available in level 4 lockdown.

Tens of thousands of families across New Zealand are facing food shortages as the lockdown cuts off access to food-in-schools programmes.

That’s the warning from KidsCan chief Julie Chapman, who said that organisation alone would feed around 40,000 children a day when schools are open.

She said in Auckland and Wellington alone, more than 2000 families need help with food parcels.

While KidsCan was feeding kids across more than 800 schools and 100 early childhood education centres, figures from March 2021 showed the Government’s healthy school lunches was providing food for just under 200,000 kids at 882 schools.

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Max Toimata had managed to escape debt thanks in part to food-in-schools programmes, but this latest lockdown has sent her back into the red.

Chapman warned that as schools remain closed under level 4 lockdown rules, cutting off that source of food, families were struggling.

“The programmes were very much needed in schools,” she said.

“The level of food insecurity is so significant.”

Chapman said the situation was exacerbated as this lockdown came at too short notice for schools to mobilise distribution of food on their premises.

Child Poverty Action Group spokeswoman Janet McAllister said losing school food was made even worse as families face reduced choice in supermarkets, including special offers, and increased data and phone costs for school use and social connection.

“Plus annual inflation and food prices were already at record highs prior to the current lockdown … People were already hurting prior to lockdown,” she said.

“The root of the problem, people do not have enough money.”

Hamilton mother of five and grandmother of nine Max Toimata is just one of the people feeling the pinch.

Access to food in schools had helped her escape the debt trap, but she’s right back there now.

Getting a $1000 power bill hasn’t helped either.

“I’m negative $150 in my bank,” she said. “I have been borrowing money to get me through.”

Toimata said she had been relying on food in her freezer and canned supplies during the lockdown, and also recently received a $150 emergency payment from Work and Income.

She also said she was dealing with shortages at her supermarket.

“Shelves are empty, no meat. It’s quite hard again.”

Chapman told Stuff that KidsCan is in the process of trying to identify families who would have benefited from school food programmes so they can commence food parcel deliveries.

“Thousands of food parcels delivered to the families of children. That’s exactly what we’re intending at the moment.”

However, she admitted these won’t get to everyone in need.

“Some children and their families will miss out,” she said. “And that is hugely heartbreaking for us.”

She said KidsCan was in the process of working with schools and early childhood education centres, but it’s a slow process hampered by privacy laws.

She said KidsCan has to ask the school to seek permission from the families in question, and if that’s received, the information can be passed on.

Chapman said using that process, KidsCan delivered 4000 food parcels during the previous lockdown.

Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner Mike Bryant also cited privacy reasons as to why the ministry was unable to supply names and addresses of clients.

However, he said the ministry would continue to work with social service providers, including foodbanks, during lockdown “to ensure they’re able to get food out to vulnerable whānau and communities.

“We all need food and urgent items through Covid-19 lockdowns, and we urge everyone to contact us if they are in need, and not try to go without. While our service centres are closed at alert level 4, our team are still at work.”

Bryant said anyone in need should contact MSD via the freephone 0800 559 009 to discuss what help, including financial assistance for food, may be available.

He also said local foodbank contact information could be found online at familyservices.govt.nz.

Chapman also said anyone wanting to support KidsCan can make donations online at kidscan.org.nz.