School food hub to feed hungry families
PARCEL DISTRIBUTION IS STEPPED UP AS POVERTY GROWS
A PROJECT set up to help struggling families is raising money to open an affordable food hub at a local primary school in Salford.
Set up by former Harrop Fold ‘superhead’ Antony Edkins, the Salford Families in need Meal Project (SFinMP) will be working with the UK’s leading food distribution organisation to give families £35 worth of food for just £7.50 a week.
The hub will be at Barton Moss Primary School where staff have already been working hard to help families who have reached out for help.
One parent of a child at the primary school, who preferred to remain anonymous, spoke about how the school was able to help when Covid struck their family.
“The food parcels have helped my family so much during the pandemic,” they said.
“We were at our worst when Covid hit our family, I was admitted to hospital and my family was worried about how we would cope. We contacted the school, and they kindly delivered us food parcels, they kept us going.
“I cannot thank the school and the project enough. We don’t know how we would have got through Covid without the help.” Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson
was at the launch of the new project. A former student at Barton Moss, he said the scheme was very close to his heart and was wiling to support it any way he could.
“It’s surreal for me to come back to help families in Salford,” he tsaid.
“I still have family living here and it’s massively important for me. Normally you just turn up put your name on it, take a picture and leave, but I want to do something, so I’ve already donated some money and I’m going to continue fundraising for the project.
“We’re doing this for Salford and we’re not trying to segregate it to families that are on the breadline - it could be anyone that has had their hours cut, lost their job or anybody who’s just struggling.”
This Easter, 150 families will receive special food parcels, and the hub will be providing weekly support for those who need it for the foreseeable future.
“Food poverty in Salford is increasing. More youngsters arrive at school each day hungry,” Antony said.