Big-hearted parents set up ‘suspended lunch’ scheme for school kids

You’ve heard of suspended coffees... well how about suspended lunches?

BIG-HEARTED parents at a northern beaches public school have been buying extra lunches to help families who may be struggling.

After Brookvale Public School set up a “suspended lunch” scheme a few months ago, parents have been able to leave $7 at the school office and the money is set aside for any child who needs a lunch.

It is based on the concept of “suspended coffees”, which is a growing trend worldwide.

P&C president Charlie Sedanayasa came up with the idea.

She said the cost of living on the northern beaches was high and the school had families from a range of different socio-economic backgrounds.

“There must be some families who get to Friday and they have no food and just can’t scrape up $7 for a school lunch,” she said.

The $7 pays for morning tea, lunch and crunch n’ sip snacks.

Feedback on the scheme, which is promoted in the school newsletter every month, has been very positive, she said.

Charlie Sedanayasa (back left) also helped set up the Facebook group Northern Beaches Meals with Love. Pictured with son Tudevlin, 5, and Caryn Medak with daughter Mia, 4, & Tyson, 6, at Brookvale Public School.

Mrs Sedanayasa also helped set up the Facebook group Northern Beaches Meals With Love to make hampers for needy families.

“Many families can look from the outside that they are doing well but they’re not,” she said.

Brookvale Public School principal Bev Maunder said it was a very community-minded school.

“It is a way for our parents to reach out and help others and it means we get a bit of a parachute for families who occasionally need a bit of extra support,” she said.