According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2014 CensusAtSchool survey, about 15 per cent of school students start the day without breakfast, up from 10 per cent when the survey started in 2008. 

For a number of years BaptistCare has been operating Breakfast Clubs three times a week for primary school students at the Warilla North Community Centre and Mt Warrigal Public School.

The clubs have become an important service. 

‘‘We’ve been running the Breakfast Club for about 10 years now, originally we were at Warilla North Public School and Mt 

Warrigal, but with the asbestos issues at Warilla North we moved to the community service,’’ 

BaptistCare Illawarra Cluster manager Walt Forrester said. 

‘‘We probably have 50 or 60 primary students and infants who we see each term and it definitely makes a difference for them.

‘‘Unfortunately there are a lot of disadvantaged families in the area who need some help and there’s also a lot of families out there who are time poor with parents having to rush out to work in the morning.’’

While the Breakfast Club ensures children don’t start the day hungry, it also has other positives. ‘‘Through the Red Cross we get a lot of healthy cereals donated, which is great as we use the Breakfast Club to promote healthy eating to the children,’’ Mr Forrester said. 

‘‘We try to teach them about the things they should be eating to start the day. We emphasise a high fibre diet through things like healthy cereals and fruit.’’

The Breakfast Club currently operates from 7.30am to 9am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during school terms.

BaptistCare is looking for volunteers to help.

Anybody interested in volunteering should call 0411659698.