MEDIA RELEASE
18TH March 2008

Demand for KidsCan Programmes Increases with Cost of Living.

The KidsCan Charitable Trust now supports 20,000 financially disadvantaged children throughout New Zealand. As the cost of living continues to sore the demand for the charities Food for Kids, Raincoats for Kids and Shoes for Kids programmes has increased dramatically. 85 low decile schools currently depend on KidsCans support, with a further 72 now the waiting list.

With the sharp rise in the price of basic commodities such as food and petrol more Kiwi families are feeling the pinch. In the last week alone a further 8 low decile schools have asked KidsCan for assistance as an increasing number of kids turn up to school hungry because there is no food at home.

KidsCan’s discrete crisis food programme currently supports 7000 children a week throughout New Zealand and the Trust is now exploring funding options to meet the needs of the 12,000 children on the waiting list for the programme.

KidsCan Director Julie Helson says “One third of the students in one Auckland school with a role of 500 arrived for class hungry until the introduction of the KidsCan ‘Food for Kids’ programme. We hear moving comments all the time from school staff. One head teacher talked about some kids filling their tummies with what they get from the water fountain. On a positive note we also hear about how the kids we currently support are now excelling in the classroom because of the free food we provide”.

The KidsCan Trust was founded in August 2005 after research in 100 low decile schools found an alarming number of New Zealand children were missing out on the basics most of us take for granted. Children were regularly kept away from school because of a lack of food, appropriate shoes and raincoats to keep them warm and dry in winter. In 2006 Massey University found KidsCan programmes have contributed to an increase in self esteem, pride and attendance at school with enthusiasm for learning also improved.

Actress and KidsCan Ambassador, Miriama Smith is currently raising funds for KidsCan on TV One’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’.

Visit www.kidscan.org.nz or for further information and interviews contact:

ENDS

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