Sebastopol, Creswick and Woady Yaloak primary schools all need extra help to provide breakfast for their students. 

Mt Pleasant Primary School also has the program but currently has enough volunteer support.

However, the school’s Breakfast Club coordinator Maureen Vallance said she couldn’t stress the program’s benefits enough.

“It gets them off to a healthy start and it’s a lovely start to the day,” Ms Vallance said.

The school currently has about 24 pupils using the program, which is held every Wednesday at 8.15am in the canteen.

Breakfast cereals, porridge in winter, baked beans, fruit, toast, milk and water are all on offer, with the produce supplied by both Foodbank Victoria and the school.

“We have a team of parents and grandparents who are really loyal to the program.

“It’s open to all children at the school but we hope we are targeting those most in need.”

Ms Vallance said it was also lovely to see the relationships developing between the pupils and the volunteers, who take a keen interest in their lives.

“Everyone from last year has continued to volunteer and we have an extra one this year now too.”

The Foodbank Victoria program currently provides breakfast for up to 25,000 children at 500 primary schools statewide.

The $13.7 million program, which began last year, has had a positive impact on pupils, with a survey showing 91 per cent of teachers saw improved classroom concentration, 70 per cent noticed a student attendance increase and 85 per cent of teachers believed the social relationship between students and staff had improved.

Foodbank Victoria chief executive officer Dave McNamara said it was an amazing first year for the program.

“Students and teachers within schools have been integral in getting breakfast clubs up and running but, the fact is, some schools just don’t have the resources to run the program every day,” Mr McNamara said.

For more information on the program or to inquire about volunteering, go to foodbankvictoria.org.au