Doncaster Council sends out 9,000 Christmas food packages to help needy families

The Doncaster Council initiative has seen the council use funding from the Covid-19 Winter Funding grant to provide the food support packages or vouchers to help families over the two week Christmas holidays.

Doncaster council helped pull the support package together and has organised delivery to the schools and to families who need them.

Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “Food hunger is a well documented problem faced by many families across the country. We wanted to make sure we do our bit to help the children of Doncaster families who would get a free school meal also have some support over the festive break.

“We have created these vital Food Support Packages and ensured they are delivered to the families who really need them. We helped them during the October half term and we are doing the same over this Christmas break.

“We will continue to press the government to do more to support the efforts of campaigners including Marcus Rashford and provide for the families facing food poverty.”

Schools and academies have had volunteers helping with deliveries. There has also been support from businesses and the wider community with iPort Doncaster, Holiday Inn Express Doncaster and XP Trust helping with deliveries and collecting produce to supplement the hampers.

Amazon has also donated to the cause with additional fruit being delivered to all junior pupils in the borough as a treat. The infant pupils already receive fruit through the NHS Fruit scheme.

A spokes person from one of the Doncaster schools said: “Thank you for the 142 food support packages delivered this morning. We are ready to start distribution this afternoon and staff have all volunteered to deliver to those who cannot collect from school. We know our families will be very grateful.”

The intention is to distribute surplus food to other families and members of community who would benefit from having additional food during this festive period.