Sharing our meals

Charity bosses say they have handed over a record number of meals for children going hungry during the school holidays.

FareShare runs a warehouse in Ashford which collects and distributes food from supermarkets to foodbanks and charities.

This summer it distributed enough food for 2,000 meals to activity projects in Folkestone and Gravesend to help feed those who usually need free school meals.

The charity says that when the six-week school holidays start it can lead families to breaking point by putting an extra £30 per week for each child onto shopping bills for hard-up parents.

FareShare operations manager Craig Brown said: “For most children the school holidays are all about fun and excitement, but sadly, for many, it can be a time of hunger.

“If your child receives a free school meal then when the summer holidays start there is a sharp and sudden increase in cost, as much as additional £30 a week per child.

“We think surplus food has a huge role to play in tackling holiday hunger. It means the grass- roots charities and councils who run these schemes can put on even more activities and reach even more families.

“Of course we wouldn’t have been able to supply anything like this amount of food without our amazing volunteers, hard at work in our warehouse in Ashford. We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved together.”

Food went to The Shed Fit and Fed in Folkestone and Youth Ngage in Gravesend, and around the country Fareshare says there are up to 1.7 million children affected.

For more information about FareShare visit www.fareshare. org.uk.

Has your family been affected by this issue? Contact the newsroom on 01233 895801 or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk.

Picture: Paul Amos FM4193912 Rosemary Harding in the food bank preparing a basket at Ashford Charity Fareshare