Healthy school lunches delivered with an invitation to play ball
At Palmerston North’s Monrad Intermediate School, students are accustomed to seeing Pita Pit franchisee Jason Griggs delivering delicious lunches like lasagne, butter chicken, and nachos for their 391 students. However, this week, Griggs arrived with a different kind of delivery: 32 sports balls for rugby, football, netball, and volleyball. This contribution is part of Pita Pit’s involvement in the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Ministry of Education free school lunch programme, which has already provided 23,300 meals to Monrad and Taonui schools this year. Through the Tania Dalton Foundation, Pita Pit extends its support beyond nutritious meals to include distributing $500,000 worth of sports gear to schools since 2017, in honour of the late netball legend Tania Dalton. Duane Dalton, Pita Pit NZ chief executive and foundation chairman, emphasises the importance of enabling students to make healthier choices, both nutritionally and physically, for their success in school and future well-being. Monrad students, including Year 8 rugby players Petra Fell and Awatea Rudolph, expressed their appreciation for both the lunches and the new sports equipment, which will be available for borrowing during breaks and used in PE classes, replacing the school’s worn-out collection.
Discover the full inspiring story of how Pita Pit and the Tania Dalton Foundation are making a difference at Monrad Intermediate School. Click the link below to read more about their generous contributions of nutritious lunches and sports equipment to support the health and success of students.