The Angels Community Group School Lunch Program was recently acknowledged at the Bundaberg Child Protection Week Action Group’s (CPWAG) Child Protection Dinner, taking home the major award of the evening.
Designed by local sculptor John Olsen, the annual Bundaberg Child Protection Week (CPW) Award honours individuals or community groups who promote the theme ‘protecting children is everybody’s business’ in the region.
The Angels Community Group was recognised for the work done on their school lunch program which has been providing home-made snacks and lunches to local schools since 2017.
Run by staff and volunteers and supported by donations, the program currently provides 285 lunches to 20 schools every week.
Angels Community Group Operations Manager Jasmine Tasker said they were honoured to receive such a meaningful award.
“I think when you are in the thick of it, head down, working hard you don't always take the time to step back and appreciate the work you and the amazing, hard-working team are doing,” Jasmine said.
“However, when something like this award is presented, it forces you to take a step back and look at the work and even more for it to be recognised by an amazing group of people like the Bundaberg CPWAG means so much.
“We were very honoured to be nominated and then to win just deeply means the world to us.”
The aim of the Bundaberg CPW Award is to create awareness and attract more donations and volunteers to community projects which Jasmine said they needed in order for their program to continue and expand.
“Throughout the seven years of making school lunches, our teams who have assisted have ranged from local businesses who have donated their time, to Angels staff and volunteers, to our trainees,” Jasmine said.
“Currently we have our Get Set For Work students who are studying a Certificate II in Hospitality undertaking a majority of the workload with their supervisor Renee Kwapil.
“Recently we have also had staff from the local Commbank branch come in weekly and assist with the lunches which has been a great help.
“We are in desperate need for financial support to help assist this program and ensure its future for all local schools in need.”
For more information on the Angels Community Group School Lunch Program or to donate or volunteer, please email hello@angelscommunitygroup.com.
