7 amazing projects helping Liverpool children in food crisis during school holidays

Footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign to tackle child hunger has highlighted the issue of families struggling to buy even food basics.

A Labour bid, championed by the Man Utd star, to extend free school meals during holidays until Easter 2021 failed to get enough votes from MPs in the House of Commons.

Rashford has pledged to fight on, warning that child food poverty has the potential to become “the greatest pandemic the country has ever faced.” 

But with half term holidays coming up, many families are facing hardship sooner rather than later.

Charities, voluntary organisations and individuals across our region are supporting struggling parents to feed their children and have been a lifeline for thousands since the virus hit. 

Here’s how you can help them, to make sure youngsters in and around Liverpool don’t go hungry at home.

LIDS half term packed lunch project

LIDS, Liverpool Independent Delivered Services, was launched by Liverpool chef Dave Critchley from Luban in Cains Brewery to bring together producers and fresh food suppliers so families could get high-quality essentials delivered during lockdown.

But as well as buying for yourself, you can buy for others too and now LIDS in conjunctions with Knowsley Kitchen has launched a half term packed lunch project to help fill the food gap for children who will miss out on free school meals during the holiday.

LIDS is aiming to reach hundreds of children this half term, with the support of local suppliers and businesses including Mrs Danvers Café and Maluco Pizza which has donated pizzas so children will get a hot meal on the final day.

To donate towards the project, go to www.thelids.co.uk and click on the LIDS Give dropdown

Micah Liverpool

Liverpool’s independent foodbank Micah hands out more than 200 food parcels each week through its twice-weekly food pantries at St Vincent de Paul Church and St Bride’s Church in the city centre. 

Micah was set up as a joint project by Liverpool Cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral and St Bride’s to tackle food insecurity and give essentials to the most vulnerable in the city.

Over the past six months it has helped over 6,000 people including well over 1,000 children, providing three-day emergency food parcels. Since the start of the virus, it has relied more than ever on donations of shopping and money to meet the need.

Donations for Micah Liverpool can be left in plastic donation boxes at the entrance aisle of Liverpool Cathedral or Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Items can also be ordered online and delivered to St James House, 20 St James Road, Liverpool, L1 7BY.

More info here. 

Holiday Hunger

The Holiday Hunger project in Liverpool helps to feed children who would normally rely on a school meal, with support from restaurants Gourmet Social in Bootle and Wonton.

Profits from both go back into the project and allow it to reach thousands of children In food poverty.

Set up by Chris Brown at the end of 2018 and starting by helping one school and 15 children, Holiday Hunger delivered 10,000 meals during lockdown and raised thousands of pounds in cash donations for community centres across the city from Granby Street in the south to Netherton Park in the north.

The more meals they sell and the more funds they raise, the more community centres and children they can feed.

Visit the website for wonton Liverpool here.

Visit Gourmet Social’s website here.

The Florrie Food Union

The Florrie Food Union is at the frontline in helping families in and round L8 who are struggling, especially with the extra stresses which school holidays bring.

It’s set up like a small supermarket, with colour-coded shelves, where members can pick from a variety of items at hugely discounted prices. Some are free so it drastically reduces the cost of a family shop.

.@TheFlorrie has provided a life line for many in our area this year. We met the team to talk about their Food Union and more ? pic.twitter.com/Br0R8660yr

— The Guide Liverpool (@TheGuideLpool) October 4, 2020

Donations are vital to keep the Florrie going and doing its amazing work in the community. To find out more about helping them fight food poverty, go to the website here.

Fans Supporting Foodbanks

Fans Supporting Foodbanks puts all Red and Blue rivalries aside to come together and tackle food insecurity in the city.

A partnership between Spirit Of Shankly and The Blue Union, its collection van has been a regular fixture outside Anfield and Goodison on matchdays for the past five years.

With no crowds because of virus restrictions, fans can still show their support by donating directly to North Liverpool Foodbank.

Donations can be made through FSF’s Donorbox.org page or via North Liverpool Foodbank’s own website here. #hungerdoesntwearclubcolours

The Big Help Project

Based in Huyton, the award-winning Big Help Project funds Knowsley Foodbank which provides emergency food parcels to people in Knowsley who are in food crisis.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Knowsley Foodbank has given food to more than 20,000 people – twice the number predicted for the entire year.

Knowsley Foodbank always accept donations of food at its depot in Link Road, Huyton or through its network of distribution centres where people in need can go to redeem vouchers in exchange for food items.

Find out how and where to donate by going to: the website here.

Radio City Cash for Kids Appeal

Radio City launched a special appeal in response to the coronavirus to help local families who were hardest hit.

So far is has been able to support more than 6,000 children across Liverpool and the North West and with half term approaching it is keeping the appeal going to help even more vulnerable young people.

Cash donations go to provide essentials including food, as well as heating, to help families through the toughest of times.

Keep your eye on the website for info here.