Lots of local businesses are getting involved to feed children over the break.
Mayor Joe Anderson has today announced that Liverpool City council will provide food vouchers for around 20,000 children on free school meals over the half term holiday next week.
After a parliamentary vote, which saw the majority of MPs vote against providing free school meal vouchers for the poorest children, the local authority decided to step in to offer these vital vouchers for families in the city.
#BREAKINGNEWS | On free school meals, @mayor_anderson announces: "We will extend our school voucher system for half term, for the 20,000 kids receiving free school meals."
"We will never lose sight of how tough it is for people out there."
— Liverpool City Council (@lpoolcouncil) October 23, 2020
Speaking at this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Mayor Anderson said: “We’ve all seen Marcus Rashford’s campaign and I and my colleagues have all been really worried about kids going hungry in this city.
“So today I am announcing that the council will stand by these kids and extend our own voucher scheme to make sure that 20,000 children will get the food they desperately need over the holiday.
“Times are tough for this council and we have been hit hard, but we will never lose sight of how hard things are for people who are trying to make ends meet in this city and I’m proud to announce this support today.”
“Hopefully this will make things a little bit easier for the families just trying to put food on their tables for their children in Liverpool.”
As the campaign continues to grow, more businesses are getting involved – each pledging to give free meals in the form of either grab bags or lunch dishes to prevent children going hungry over the October break.
Marcus Rashford and his family have also continued their hard work this week, too, personally providing a helping hand at the FareShare food bank’s brand new depot in Greater Manchester.
Next week Taste will be jumping on the bandwagon & offering free pack lunches to families struggling this half term!!! 🥗💚👍🏻
Inbox for details, all information will be kept confidential! pic.twitter.com/yL5ntL7AiS— Taste Sandwich Bar (@tastedingle) October 22, 2020
The council joins Liverpool FC and a host of generous local businesses, such as Fika in Wavertree and Taste sandwich bar in Dingle, to name a few, who have offered help, food packs and meals to the thousands of families struggling to put food on the table.
With the city now under Tier 3 lockdown restrictions, and a lower government furlough in place, thousands more families are struggling to make ends meet and many are fearing how they will cope without free school meals next week.