'If you won't help, we will' - South Lakeland businesses step up to provide free meals to children

Countless altruistic companies have taken it upon themselves to offer free meals and packed lunches for children, after the Government voted against extending the free school meals scheme into the half-term holiday.

Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, who is campaigning to end food poverty in the UK, had called on the Government to provide the meals.

Latest Department for Education figures show that 2,551 children in South Lakeland’s constituencies were eligible for free school meals in the last school year.

Joe Beaumont, owner of Joey’s Cafe in Kendal said: “It’s a disgusting decision.

“Right from the get go we felt empowered by the Government’s decision and fortunately we are in a position where we sell food and its obvious we could do something reactive.

“The impact on those people could be huge.

“There is poverty here, there are homeless people here.”

Jean Kilpatrick, manager at Cafe Eclec in Staveley said: “I think it is really bad what the Government is doing, in deducting wages and no consideration that someone may have two or three kids that need feeding.

“That’s an extra 15 meals a week.

“We’re in a position where we can help our people and it’s a really community orientated village.”

Magdalena Szymanska Linowiecka, co-owner of Waterside Cafe in Kendal said: “We simply wanted to help families who were left without support from the government in this difficult time. My husband and I have two wonderful children and I cannot imagine what it would be like if we couldn’t afford food and this year has been challenging enough for everyone already.

“We had lots of wonderful comments and donations from customers so anything that is left we will donate to another foodbank.

“We are also thinking about some kind of support over Christmas time for children and adults. We have started with a “pay forward” option where people can buy drink or food to anyone in need.”

Nikita Fairchild, owner of Nikita’s Bistro in Milnthorpe said: “We weren’t impressed with the government decision and when we looked into it locally no one was really providing for local families so we put in place the pack lunches which is 15 a day.

“We have also put an offer on that for every adult lunch time meal purchased, children eat free and the value of the child’s meal is donated to Milnthorpe foodbank, as we feel things will get worse for Christmas and not better.”

Other businesses providing free meals and packed lunches for children include Thai Kitchen, The New Union in Kendal, the 2 Sisters Cafe at Plumgarths, The Heron , Kendal, Frydays of Kendal and many more.

Home Designs Kendal have also teamed up with several local companies and local caterer Cracking Spread to deliver packed lunches to families.

Oliver Wilson from Home Designs said: “I’ve got a young family, times are tough with the pandemic.

“And I would hate to think any child for any reason didn’t have a lunch time meal.

“I wanted to get together with other business owners and provide that option for people.”

Kendal People's Cafe, on behalf of Morrisons, will be handing out 30 lunch bags for children on October 29.

And on Tuesday Kendal Dance Academy handed out 50 bags full of food items at Kirkland Hall, products were donated by companies and individuals including Morrisons and Penningtons Coffee.

Megan Tomlinson, principal of Kendal Dance Academy had partnered up with Natalie Sunter, of Sarah Jones’ Personal Training, to make the project happen.

“We think about 15 bags got collected through out the day,” said Ms Tomlinson.

“We were there at some points throughout the day to hand out, but we had just left them on the table in the entrance for people to come in and collect as we felt some people maybe didn’t want the communication when collecting.

“The few we did see were incredibly grateful. We had a young boy waiting first thing and he was so happy when my son handed him one of the bags and very grateful saying thank you several times.”

South Lakeland District Council recently declared a poverty emergency and are planning to launch a poverty truth commission to examine how the issue can be improved.

Speaking at a recent council meeting Giles Archibald, leader of South Lakeland District Council said: “We intend to make sure no child need go hungry during half term.

“I have said we have a problem and a concern with child poverty and food poverty, and it is the duty of central and local government to make sure no child goes hungry.”