17,500 disadvantaged children in low decile schools throughout New Zealand will start the year with full stomachs thanks to increased support from the KidsCan StandTall Charitable Trust.

In 2009 KidsCan's Food for Kids programme provided meals for 8500 children a week. Now thanks to funds raised during the 'Big Night In' Telethon and financial support from the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Health, food will be made available to more than double the number of children who would otherwise be faced with filling their stomachs from the water fountain when they return to school next week.

Julie Helson Executive Director of KidsCan StandTall says. "Children living in poverty miss out on the things most of us take for granted and that unfortunately includes access to three meals a day which impacts on their nutritional status and ability to learn in the classroom"

"When money is tight parents are embarrassed to send their kids to school with little or no food and so often choose to keep them home. It is our partnership with the government, business and community which has enabled us to expand the programme to support a greater number of disadvantaged children so they can come to school and get on with the business of learning"

The KidsCan StandTall Trust was founded in 2005 to meet the basic physical and nutritional needs of disadvantaged New Zealand children in low decile schools. The Trust currently supports 40,000 children a year in 173 schools providing food, shoes, raincoats and a capability enhancement programme which ensures children less fortunate than others have an equal opportunity to get the most from their education.