30k sandwiches for hungry kids

BALLARAT’S Eat Up program, which makes sandwiches for school children arriving on campus without lunch, has reached a major milestone.

Last week, middle school volunteers at Ballarat Grammar made the local initiative’s 30,000th cheese sandwich, before Alfredton Rotarians and L2P learner drivers delivered them to the 24 schools that take part in the program.

Eat Up launched in Ballarat at the end of 2016 and Grammar’s year 7 and 8 students take part in five after school sandwich making sessions a term in the boarders’ dining hall where they pack lunches including snacks.

Rotarian Deb Robertson thanked each person that has contributed to the program over the last five years.

“We generally have 25 people involved, and when the Rotary club are doing it, we usually have half-a-dozen volunteers. We make approximately 300 sandwiches each time,” she said.

Ms Robertson also expressed appreciation for former Ballarat Grammar staff member Matt Hanlon, who initially got the senior school students involved in the initiative as a Round Square service project.

VCAL teacher Elaine Rooney has since taken over as coordinator.

“We have VCAL students that help liaise between the school and volunteers,” Ms Robertson said. “Elaine integrates Eat Up into VCAL as a student project each year.”

Woolworths’ Eastwood Street supply the bread, and have recently donated vouchers so Rotarians can buy snacks.

Nature’s Cargo donates margarine and cheese, while the Eat Up organisation supplies food-wrap, handling gloves and tablecloths.