Teen donates chocolate to food bank

A Scottish teenager has donated 100 chocolate selection boxes to his local food bank to ensure children living in poverty are still able to enjoy a treat at Christmas.

Jack Valentine, 15, was praised for his “amazing” generosity after organising a fundraising drive to buy the Cadbury’s boxes so they could be passed on to others.

He has now donated the treats to Glasgow South West food bank, which runs out of Mosspark Baptist Church.

Mr Valentine said: “Everyone deserves a selection box at Christmas.” The teenager is hoping to visit the food bank today to meet the children who will receive the treats.

Dionne Abbott, who operates the food bank, said: “We are overwhelmed by his generosity at such a young age towanttocarryoutsuchanact of kindness.

“We thought it would be great for Jack to visit and learn more about the work we do, experiencing firsthand the reality of the difference he has made.”

Earlier this year the Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimated that one in four Scots children, or almost 250,000, are living in poverty, with the holidays a particularly difficult time.

Last month Glasgow City Council said almost 15,000 children across the city received free meals over the summer holidays as their parents struggled to put enough food on the table.