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Many retailers have pledged their support for Marcus Rashford’s food poverty campaign and are taking practical action to help children in their communities as half-term starts.
They have stepped in to offer free food after MPs voted against extending the school meals voucher scheme to cover all holiday periods.
Avtar “Sid” Sidhu, who runs St John’s Budgens in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, is one of several retailers inspired by the actions of the footballer.
From today (23 October) school children visiting his store accompanied by an adult will be able to claim free food for their lunch.
“This is all about humanity. I just wanted to reach out to our community and offer our services at this difficult time.
“I have been following Marcus Rashford’s campaign and was disappointed that MPs did not back the bill so decided to do something. We just want to become a bit of a beacon in the local area.
“This is an affluent area but there are always people around here who need to use school vouchers and we also have a lot of single parents around here.”
The scheme will run for two weeks during the half-term and community support will continue afterwards with the launch of Sidhu’s “give a little gift” campaign.
This permanent community initiative will invite shoppers to make a donation to support other customers who may need help.
“We are in such difficult times so we have to do something to help those people in our community who are really struggling.”
Raaj Chandarana, who operates Tara’s Londis, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, is another providing free food for school children.
He is giving away lunch – a sandwich, a drink, a piece of fruit and a snack – to children accompanied by an adult every day this week.
On twitter he said: “No child will go hungry this week” and added: “No purchase required, no judgement, no strings.”
In a video message to the local community posted on twitter, he said: “We have been serving you guys for 23 years and a lot of the conversations I’ve had with you in recent months tell me that this is really a difficult time, but you are also a little bit nervous to ask for help.
“Don’t suffer in silence. If we can’t feed you after 23 years, we’re not doing our job properly.”
Other retailers helping school children with free food during half-term include Sophie Towers, of One Stop Kibble in Burnley, Lancashire.
Commenting on twitter, she said: “If the government won’t provide lunches, we will.”
Aman Uppal, who runs One Stop Mount Nod in Coventry, West Midlands, is also taking steps to help local kids.
He says that during the half-term break, he will provide a “nutritious” lunch for children between 11am and 2pm every day of the holiday period.
Alex Kapadia of Nisa Local (Whitehills) in Kingsthorpe, Northampton, Northamptonshire, is giving away a packed lunch containing a sandwich, drink and piece of fruit for children during half-term this week.
Customers are able to collect from the counter between 8am-1pm this week.
The Costcutter in Cambourne, Cornwall is also offering free meals for children this week with customers able to book a slot to collect them through Facebook.
Many other convenience retailers have also voiced their support for the free school meals campaign on social media and are taking practical action to address the issue by providing free food for local children.
An online map was launched today to support families and children over the October half-term.
The map, which is available at www.kidsmealsmap.co.uk, is designed to show the businesses, community organisations and councils that will be providing free meals to vulnerable children over half-term.
Food organisations are being asked to visit the website and register details of what they are offering so vulnerable children and families can find out what is available in their local area.
