Caterer provides more than 2,000 meals to vulnerable children in London during coronavirus crisis

A contract caterer and a private school have linked up to provide more than 2,000 meals for vulnerable children.

Meal makers Thomas Franks is now asking more businesses to help support its vital food programme for young people in need.

Thanks to financial support from Barings, the Thomas Franks Foundation has now supplied the food to families in Greenwich, Lambeth, Southwark and other parts of London to support at-risk children.

Dulwich Prep London is also loaning its school kitchen to enable meals to be distributed to three of the kitchen social hubs to the Central Eltham Youth Project in Greenwich, Coin Street Centre Trust in Southwark, and ParentSkillstoGo in Lambeth.

More than 400,000 children under the age of 16 live with food insecurity in London. More than half are unable to qualify for government food vouchers during the coronavirus crisis, while many more cannot access supplies due to food bank closures. These children are currently isolated, at risk of hunger and scared for the future.

Thomas Franks, managing director Frank Bothwell said: “We’ve now delivered over 2,000 healthy meals to young children in need across London thanks to the generous financial support of Barings, along with our schools partners who have also loaned their kitchens to help create the nutritious lunches.

“With such a huge demand for this service during this crisis we’re now urgently calling on more businesses in London to provide more donations to enable us buy more food and continue this vital service while the lockdown continues. Any size of donation will be gratefully received.”

To support the meal appeal, go to: https://mayorsfundforlondon.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/covid-19-appeal

Pictured top: Chris Jerram, one of the chefs helping out