Long-serving Merivale School volunteers Sandy Gilligan and Bev Joblin “just ooze care and aroha” for the children they serve breakfast to twice weekly.

That’s how Merivale School deputy principal Heather Langley describes the school’s two longest-serving KickStart Breakfast programme helpers.

The Ministry of Social Development funds the programme and Fonterra and Sanitarium supply Anchor milk and Sanitarium Weet-Bix to more than 1400 schools nationwide, including 138 in the Bay of Plenty.

Merivale School in Tauranga joined the programme in term four of 2011 and serves breakfast to about 40 to 50 students daily.

Launched in 2009, the programme is focused on helping students start the day with a nutritious breakfast. This provides the strength and energy to maximise their learning at school and improve their wellbeing, social connections, and life skills.

Gilligan, 81, who lives in Pillans Point, is the school’s longest-serving breakfast club volunteer, having clocked up 24 years. Joblin, 87, has been a KickStart Breakfast volunteer for almost four years.

Both serve breakfast on Thursdays and Fridays and have become close friends.

In August, Gilligan and Joblin were recognised for their service during a special celebration to mark the programme’s 15th anniversary.

Gilligan said: “I loved being involved with the KickStart programme and spending time with the children.

“There is something about Merivale School and the children I especially connect with. I’m 100% here for them to ensure they have full tummies to ensure they get the best chance to do well in the classroom. But the programme is also about developing important social connections and other life skills.”

Gilligan said having personal contact with each child was “so important and special”.

“And when you remember their names, their little faces light up. Often we will have little chats and they share little bits of news, and that’s when you really get to know them.”

She also used to read to the children after serving them breakfast as part of a former local Rotary club initiative.

Gilligan said to mark her 24 years of volunteering at the school some of the senior children wrote her thank you letters.

“Bless them, their words were just so beautiful. It’s so rewarding knowing you’re helping make a difference in the children’s lives.”

Gilligan said before becoming a breakfast programme volunteer, she was involved with several other community organisations, including St Vincent De Paul’s former Full Stop programme and had prepared dinners for families in need for more than a decade.

A breast cancer survivor, she also did voluntary work for the Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust and served as trustee for 13 years. In 2013, Gilligan received the Eves Realty Western Bay of Plenty Volunteer Excellence Award.

Retired teacher Bev Joblin, 87, said she had a lifelong love of children.

“I only live about 10 minutes away from the school and thought this was something I could do to help support ... children, which I love to do.

“My husband died in 2001, and being on my own I felt this was a safe way to get involved in a programme that’s making a real difference to the children’s lives. It’s also ideal for me because I get to spend time with other like-minded people like Sandy.”

Joblin said she loved serving breakfast to the children, who were “very appreciative and respectful” and she looked forward to her shift every week.

“It’s so satisfying helping these kids, and knowing you’re being useful and doing important work is a great feeling.

“It helps to get me up in the morning and gives you a real sense of purpose.”

Joblin said she had previously been involved in the former St Vincent De Paul’s Loaves & Fishes Project and helped prepare lunch packs in the St Mary’s Catholic Church kitchen for students at several local schools.

“Catholicism is pretty strong in the Joblin family, and helping serve others is an important part of my faith,” she said.

About four years ago, Joblin was awarded a special Benemerenti medal and certificate from Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, for her many years of devoted service to the church and her community.

Merivale School deputy principal Heather Langley flanked by two of the Kickstart Breakfast programme volunteers Bev Joblin (left) and Sandy Gilligan. Photo / Sandra Conchie

Langley said Gilligan, Joblin and the other six community volunteers - including staff from KPMG and ANZ - genuinely cared for the children.

“The care and aroha shown to the children just oozes from Bev and Sandy and the kids love these two wonderful ladies.

“What a lovely way to start your day with your mates, having good conversations and setting the day up for success. And it’s a win-win for us too as the kids are calm, have full tummies and go off to the classroom ready to learn. It sets their day up very nicely.”

Langley said multiple benefits came from the programme, which brings together teachers, student leaders, whānau and wonderful community volunteers.

KickStart Breakfast programme manager Tracey Putt said the programme helped reduce barriers for students to access nutritious food and provided a space for the children and the wider school community to share some kai and build connections.

“This programmewouldn’t be possible without the hard work of volunteers like Sandy and Bev who generously give their time to supporting their local breakfast clubs. Sandy and Bev are two of the more than 4000 volunteers across New Zealand making this vital programme possible.

“These volunteers help create a positive and welcoming atmosphere for tamariki and rangatahi every day.”

The programme has served more than 70 million breakfasts nationwide since starting.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 24 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.