Serving up support for children in need - Live your dream

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day and for children it can mean the difference between starting school ready to learn or struggling to focus. That’s why Komatsu’s Ben Jones chose to spend his Live Your Dream (LYD) grant to support Fuel for Schools, a local North Queensland charity helping more kids begin their mornings with a full stomach and a smile.

Live Your Dream is Komatsu’s initiative that gives employees the chance to support a community project or organisation that they’re passionate about, with a $10,000 grant to help bring their dream to life.

Based in Townsville, Ben has followed Fuel for Schools for several years through his former colleague, Paddy Pool, who now works full time with the charity. “I saw the impact Paddy and the team were having through social media and it opened my eyes to an issue I never imagined was so common — children in our community going to school without food,” Ben says.

Through LYD, Ben joined the Fuelling the Future breakfast club at a local primary school, helping prepare and serve meals alongside the team. He also spoke with teachers, who shared how something as simple as breakfast can change a child’s confidence and classroom engagement.

What impressed Ben most was how the program has grown. “Supplying kids a piece of toast in the morning is how it started. But it’s now grown into something that helps build trust and safe spaces, where students feel comfortable opening up to teachers about challenges at home. That enables schools to connect families with further support.”

The numbers show just how big the impact has become. In 2024, Fuel for Schools supported 60 schools across North Queensland, providing almost 7,000 meals each week at a cost of $1,500–$2,000 per week.

“That’s a pretty substantial cost for a charity, so it was amazing to be able to support them through Live your Dream and extend the program to more children in need.

“The feedback from the charity and the school staff was incredibly positive. For me, it was an eye-opener, seeing how such a simple act can change a child’s day, and maybe even their future,” Ben says.