Holiday lunchboxes delivered to children across area by Midhurst Foodbank Centre

Supported by Chichester District Foodbank and many local organisations and individuals, holiday lunchboxes provided by The Trussell Trust were delivered to children in the community who would normally receive a free school meal.

The Midhurst Foodbank Centre liaises closely with schools and this delivery was just one of the ways the trust supports families who struggle to feed themselves because of hardship.

The volunteers, many from the Rotary Club of Midhurst and Petworth, were joined by Chichester MP Gillian Keegan, who helped to load cars at the Catholic church in Midhurst.

Altogether, 155 boxes were delivered, each of which contained food for ten lunches – one for each week day of the holiday – to homes in Midhurst, Easebourne and the surrounding villages.

Gillian said: “The day was a fantastic local effort and a testament to the community spirit in our area.

“It was a complex logistical operation, coordinating around 60 volunteers delivering to households right across the district and beyond.

“I’m really grateful to the whole community, for all their hard work to help those who are going through hard times.”

After a year when normal fundraising activities have been severely curtailed, Rotarians have provided support for the food bank at every level; providing not just man-power and drivers but also substantial financial support along with individual Christmas bonus bags for each child.

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