Abaco Strong Breakfast for Children Program

The Children at Coopers Town Primary School  have been working hard this year and we want to make sure that they have the advantage of a healthy breakfast to start the day. Did you know that studies have shown that breakfast improves the chance of academic and personal success for school age children? According to the Food Research and Action Center:

• Children who eat breakfast at school perform better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast
• Children who skip breakfast are less able to master the tasks necessary to do well in school.
• Students who participate in school breakfast exhibit decreased behavioral and psychological problems and have lower rates of absence and tardiness.

Our Breakfast Program is helping to address food security in Abaco where many families are still struggling to recover from a Category 5 Hurricane and a Global Pandemic. The program is run by two wonderful ladies who are members of the community. They do the shopping to purchase food and supplies, and then arrive early in the morning to prepare and serve the food as the children get off the bus. After breakfast the children return their dishes to the kitchen where the crew does the clean up and prepares for the next day. Well nourished, the children are happy and ready to start the day by 8:30. You can see the breakfast program in action where the children received a special treat of waffles and hot chocolate on the last day of school before Christmas Break. 

We need your help to continue to fund this important program at Coopers Town Elementary, and through your generosity, we hope to expand the program to other schools in Abaco. Please consider making a monthly or one time donation to help these children be successful in school. 

*Source: Food Research and Action Center, Washington, DC -  https://frac.org/programs/school-breakfast-program/benefits-school-breakfast

Links:

• A Special Treat on the last day before Christmas Break!

• Abaco Strong Breakfast for Children Program (PDF)
  

Abaco Strong kicked off our ABC Breakfast Program in mid September and the program is now in full swing. The enrollment at Coopers Town Primary School has more than doubled since last year, which presented a challenge for us. Rather than delay the start of the program, we are providing breakfast for all of the children on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are currently serving 235 children from Kindergarten through 5th grade. The children arrive on three different buses, and are served breakfast upon their arrival as they make their way to the classroom.

A typical breakfast includes a plate of grits, suasage or tuna, and some fruit such as pineapple chunks or mango pineapple sauce. The children love the breakfast, and the teachers agree that a nourishing breakfast helps the children stay focused, and improves behavior and attendance.

If you would like to see this program continue and expand, please consider a monthly or one time donation to support our ABC Campaign. We need your help to fund the program for the entire school year, and we are hoping to expand the program to other schools in Abaco.

Thank you for your Support!

Stay Abaco Strong,

Martha