Stirred into action

By Tania Martin
KALLISTA Primary School needs help, as it gets ready to hoe into the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Project.
Students and staff are excited about the start of the project but are in desperate need of volunteers, sponsors and donations.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden project aims to teach children the importance of healthy eating by introducing them to both growing fresh produce and cooking it.
Although the school has received $62,500 from the State Government for the project – it still needs more.
The community has answered the school’s call for help joining in the campaign to kick-start the program.
More than 180 people last week gathered to meet world-renowned chef Stephanie Alexander and hear the school’s appeal.
Principal Barbara Rose said the school has enough cash to employ kitchen and garden staff to teach the children but still has no kitchen for the children to cook in.
“We need to build a children’s kitchen with five work stations,” she said. The idea was originally to turn the canteen into a kitchen but the Education Department has told the school it can’t use the building because it’s a portable classroom.
Ms Rose said the school is now on the hunt for another option.
Ms Alexander last week urged people in the community to get behind the project and either volunteer their time or donate money.
People who want to help Kallista kick-start the project by either volunteering or providing sponsorship should call Barbara Rose on 9755 2633.