Warwick church helping to alleviate 'holiday hunger'

A church in Warwick is doing its bit to help alleviate ‘holiday hunger’ this summer.
Maddy Bates (left) and Kegan Woolerton (right) holding exotic animals during last week's session. Photos supplied.Maddy Bates (left) and Kegan Woolerton (right) holding exotic animals during last week's session. Photos supplied.
Maddy Bates (left) and Kegan Woolerton (right) holding exotic animals during last week's session. Photos supplied.

St Paul’s Church in Friars Street opens its doors each Friday in the school holidays for its ‘Make Lunch’ programme.

Funded by charity TLG, each session runs from noon to 1.55pm where volunteers put on a range of fun activities for primary school age children and their families. This is then followed with a fresh cooked lunch - all for free.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Volunteer Audrey Akers said: “We recognise there are plenty of families within our community who have to make very difficult decisions come the school holidays about how and when they can feed their children. We have heard of some parents who go without in order to give their youngsters a meal. It’s an appalling situation to be in yet for many it’s a real one.

Maddy Bates (left) and Kegan Woolerton (right) holding exotic animals during last week's session. Photos supplied.Maddy Bates (left) and Kegan Woolerton (right) holding exotic animals during last week's session. Photos supplied.
Maddy Bates (left) and Kegan Woolerton (right) holding exotic animals during last week's session. Photos supplied.

“Make Lunch is a way of helping these families in need, and those just about managing, to get a fresh cooked lunch and enjoy a range of fun things to do.

“There is always a great atmosphere, the kids enjoy it and the parents get a bit of a break from the stress of worrying about how they will make sure the family doesn’t go hungry.”

St Paul’s has been running its Make Lunch programme for the past 18 months and each week there are different activities on offer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Last Friday (July 26) children were treated to a session about exotic bugs, spiders, reptiles and insects by organisation, Wildlife Encounters.

Leo Simms (left) and Maddy Bates (right) at last Friday's Make Lunch session. Photos supplied.Leo Simms (left) and Maddy Bates (right) at last Friday's Make Lunch session. Photos supplied.
Leo Simms (left) and Maddy Bates (right) at last Friday's Make Lunch session. Photos supplied.

Mrs Akers said: “We were becoming increasingly aware there was a need within our community and were keen to make a positive difference to peoples’ lives which is why we started Make Lunch.

“It is always well attended and numbers are growing. However we know there are lots more families who could benefit so we hope to get the word out and encourage more to come along.”

Make Lunch runs at St Paul’s Church in Friars Street, each Friday in the school holidays between noon and 1.55pm.

For more details click here

Related topics: