Students at seven Dalby schools and kindergartens are learning about the health benefits of growing their own fruit, vegetables and herbs thanks to a Dalby Lions Project sponsored by CS Energy.
Agriculture may be a key industry in the Western Downs but many local children do not have the opportunity to grow fresh produce. The Dalby Lions Club decided to do something about this by providing ‘Vegepod’ vegetable garden kits to participating schools and kindergartens.
To help cover the costs of the program, the Club successfully applied for $4,700 in sponsorship from Round 1 of CS Energy’s Community Sponsorships Program.
Dalby Lions Club Treasurer Peter Brown said the club initiated the program to educate children about growing food and increase awareness of diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes that are linked to poor nutrition.
“We hope this program inspires children to make healthier eating choices to set them up with good habits for life,” Mr Brown said.
“By growing and harvesting their own fruit and vegetables, they are learning about where their food comes from and how great tasting freshly grown food can be.”
The participating schools and kindergartens are: Dalby Beck Street Kindergarten, The Learning Tree Dalby, Goodstart Early Learning Centre, Dalby Day Care Centre, Stuart Street Kindergarten, Snow White Kindergarten, Dalby South State School and Our Lady of the Southern Cross College.
Dalby Lions Club Treasurer Peter Brown and CS Energy Principal Community Relations Adviser Tara King with Stuart Street Kindergarten teacher Sarah O'Connor and students Arianna, Harrison and Noah.
CS Energy Head of Corporate Affairs Nev Conway congratulated the Dalby Lions Club on the success of the program.
“The Dalby Lions Vegepods Project is a great example of a project that will have a long-lasting benefit for the local community,” Mr Conway said. “I encourage other community groups with projects that will deliver similar benefits to apply for the latest round of our community sponsorships.”
Round 3 of CS Energy’s Community Sponsorships Program closes on 30 September. To apply, visit the Social Investment page.