The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A South Holland community larder is looking at providing packed lunches for school children during the summer holiday.
Holbeach Community Larder charity is already making plans to help families who may struggle over the long break.
The community larder and cafe operates a food bank at the Reading Rooms on Wednesday and Friday.
It also offers a cafe on Fridays providing a two-course lunch for free.
The larder was formed in 2013 by a group of local volunteers and is experiencing one of its busiest time in almost ten years.
“We are looking at offering the packed lunches to help over the summer. Things are definitely getting worse for people and we are seeing a lot of new families,” said chairman of the trustees and founding member Jane Francis.
The charity is always looking for specific items, such as UHT milk, squash and toiletries as these go very quickly.
“We have had some very generous donors who have helped a lot, but we would welcome more in terms of donated food or money,” said Mrs Francis.
The charity, part of an independent group of foodbanks, also receives waste food from supermarkets along with donated items from shoppers, but the volume is reducing.
“We have noticed there’s been less food donated, people are finding things more difficult now,” said Mrs Francis.
Heading for its tenth year of operating, the Holbeach charity also offers a sign-posting service for people who need help with a range of things from energy costs to accessing additional help.
Someone is always at the end of the phone, 07859 905903 to take food parcel requests, emergency parcels or for community larder queries.
Local food companies are also being asked to help as some of them give to a national scheme, but independent food banks like Holbeach, Spalding, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge may miss out when it comes to distribution.
“We don’t need as much as the big towns, but it would be nice if a few local food companies could help us directly,” said Mrs Francis.
“Our kitchen has a five-star hygiene rating and the cafe offers freshly-prepared food,” said Mrs Francis.
Further details about the charity can be found on the Holbeach Community Larder page on Facebook or www.holbeachcommunitylarder.org.uk
Anyone who can help the cafe by donation or volunteering can contact Mrs Francis on 07909 682351.
