A FUND-RAISING bid to ensure no child in Worcester goes hungry over half-term has reached almost £4,000.
The campaign was the brainchild of Sam Barriscale, owner of Ma Baker’s bakery on Cranham Drive and initially hoped to raise £500.
Spurred on by the Government’s rejection of a call from Labour for free school meals to be provided during half-term and until Easter next year, Mr Barriscale revealed his plan to offer food to any child that needs it.
City MP Robin Walker was among the 321 Conservative MPs to vote down the motion which led to a furious response from Worcester Labour Party who said the decision risked 2,000 children in the city going hungry.
After initially making an offer to provide food off their own backs, the response from members of the community in the city inspired the business owner to launch a JustGiving page.
“Our elected MP has voted for the poorest children to go without food this half term. I cannot put into words how I feel about this without getting a Facebook ban,” he wrote on Facebook.
“So what we’re offering is if you know a child that is going to struggle to eat over the half term, please send them our way for a filled roll or a hot pastry.
“Please don’t be embarrassed or proud. If you’d like to call me personally so you don’t have to ask in the shop, please use the mobile number on the website and I’ll make sure it’s ready for your child to collect,” he added.
The caring business owner conformed any surplus donations at the end of the week would be donated to Worcester Foodbank.
Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mabakers for more.
Two caring Tesco workers at the Warndon Villages store also hope to prove ‘every little helps’ by preparing packed lunches at the store’s kitchen.
Molly Simons and Jazmine Milward have made the offer to any child in need and offered complete confidentiality.
The caring pair will be offering the lunches on Wednesday (October 28) and taking pre-orders from now until Tuesday evening.
Call 07725 442593 for more.
