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Warwick Smith/Stuff
Dropping off a few sports balls at Monrad Intermediate School in Palmerston North – Pita Pit franchisee Jason Griggs, right, with principal’s assistant Monette Collier, left, and students Awatea Rudolph and Petra Fell.
When the students at Palmerston North’s Monrad Intermediate School see Pita Pit franchisee Jason Griggs, he’s usually dropping off lasagne or butter chicken or nachos for lunch for 391.
But this week he came instead bearing some 32 sports balls for rugby, football, netball and volleyball.
He’s part of the national chain’s Ka Ora, Ka Ako Ministry of Education free school lunch programme, which has provided 23,300 meals to Monrad and Taonui schools so far this year.
And now, through the Tania Dalton Foundation, he’s become part of the chain’s effort to distribute $500,000 worth of sports gear to schools since the charity’s inception in 2017.
The foundation was set up in honour of the late netball legend by her husband Duane Dalton, Pita Pit NZ chief executive and foundation chairman.
He said giving students the ability to make healthier choices in terms of nutrition and activity helped set them up for a great day at school and for a better future.
“The healthy school lunches has made such a significant impact to guaranteeing kids have the nutrients they need on a daily basis,” Dalton said.
“With the addition of sports gear we’re hoping to play a big part in these kids’ focus and success in the classroom.”
Warwick Smith/Stuff
Monrad Intermediate Year 8 students Awatea Rudolph and Petra Fell juggle a collection of new balls donated through Pita Pit.
Monrad rugby players Petra Fell and Awatea Rudolph, both Year 8 students, said they liked all the lunches from Pita Pit.
Petra said the new sports balls would be available for students to borrow from the sports shed during breaks, and would be used by PE classes.
She said most of the school’s current collection of balls were looking “a bit worn out”.
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