North Canterbury School View Hill has received a big boost to its Pātaka Kai, or school pantry programme.
The $3,000 Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust grant will provide View Hill School with the resources needed to build its school pantry initiative. This includes funding for gardening materials and the creation of an outdoor pantry for easy access to fresh produce.
The school pantry will serve both the school and the wider community, and it will be maintained by regular in-school gardening by the students as well as a ‘Garden to Table’ programme.
View Hill School parent and fundraising representative Angelina said the money would also help families in the community who may need it.
“The grant allows us to buy a tunnel house, giving us additional space for our students to grow more vegetables and the ability to grow year-round,” she said.
“The programme is run by one of our fantastic teachers and allows the students to spend time outside and learn about things like cooking and sustainability through hands-on experiences.”
PAK’nSAVE Rangiora, a locally owned and operated store under the Foodstuffs South Island co-operative, was crucial in securing this grant for View Hill School.
“Catherine and I have donated to the Community Trust since we purchased our first supermarket 12 years ago. It’s just the right thing to do in terms of engaging with the wider co-op and getting support to those in the community that need it,” said James Flanagan, owner-operator of PAK’nSAVE Rangiora.
Being a small, rural school, these grants make a huge difference. The Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust was created to support the South Island and create thriving communities.
It has prioritised projects and organisations that align with its social promises of enabling people to access healthy food, supporting the South Island community to thrive, and contributing to individuals' achieving meaningful work.
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