Students at the Island’s largest senior school are turning up for classes hungry — and a programme set up to provide them with food is under threat.

The Student Assistance Programme (SAP) was formed some years ago to meet the needs of CedarBridge Academy pupils but it is now struggling to help them because of a lack of funds.

The point was driven home today as local company CellOne provided students with breakfast as part of the Food For Thought initiative aimed at ensuring students have a healthy meal before their exams.

Marilyn Jackson, SAP coordinator, said the programme was in jeopardy because there were no funds to sustain it.

“We just hope that we will get the funds from somewhere because the children are still hungry,” she said, adding that it was currently helping 15 to 20 needy students.

CedarBridge spokeswoman Gina Davis said it was recognised that “throughout the year, several students attend school every day, not having had any dinner the night before or breakfast in the morning and certainly there is nothing for lunch”.

“This is not unique to Bermuda but in a country that still considers itself to be a wealthy country, nothing is in place to feed high school students to ensure their success in school,” she said.

“There are programmes for primary school students, but high school students, whose parents have financial challenges, also need food, but nothing publicly exists.”

Ms Jackson said: “The programme, which initially provided for school essentials and, in special instances, financial assistance for utility payments, eventually began to provide lunch in the form of bag lunches provided by a local church.

“When the economy began to shift downward, the breakfast and lunch vouchers were introduced for students to purchase meals from the school.

“Quite often there are families who are struggling or at the time are challenged financially and cannot provide lunch or breakfast. The Student Assistance Programme works to help in this regard.

“What began as a way to assist with other aspects has branched out as a method to address students’ breakfast and lunch needs.

“We also provide school clothes, school supplies, text books, exercise books, [and] anything school-related for students who present a genuine need. We also have a supply of used school clothing and this year it is becoming depleted.”

Ms Jackson said appeals for funds had been made to the parent- teacher-student association, emphasising the need for adequate food for students in their final year at the school.

Some students receive breakfast and lunch vouchers every day but due to a lack of sponsors this year, most students get only two lunch vouchers a week and bag lunches on other days.

“This year, the Church of God continues to provide bag lunches but the economy has hit everyone and they have been inundated with requests from their congregation and the community as well.

“To help this situation, the provision of bag lunches has been reduced to three days a week instead of five days.”

In the past, the CedarBridge Academy SAP has received donations from other churches, community organisations, corporate business, individuals, staff members and parents.

CellOne is the only company that has donated funds for the SAP so far this year and “while it was a sizeable amount, it will soon run out,” said Ms Jackson.

“What would be helpful to the programme is finding someone who is willing to volunteer to help raise funds to allow the programme to continue.

“I know how much is needed, just for the lunch and breakfast. It will cost anywhere between $12,000 to $15,000 to feed students, who are in need. There is a direct correlation between educational outcomes and nutrition. Children who are hungry cannot think. If they can’t think, they cannot be successful.

“We need funds, because ... children come and they come hungry. We certainly need funds to assist students who are in need and donations and sponsorship for this programme would go a long way.”

n Anyone interested in helping should call Ms Jackson on 278-1574 or counsellor Roshanda Caines on 296-5665 extension 2123.