News / Child Hunger
‘It’s everybody’s problem – it’s our children who are going hungry’
Disgust at the latest free school meals scandal has prompted a group of friends to take action to help ensure struggling families have food.
Chloe Wood says photos of the meagre amount provided for children by a government-contracted company drove her and sister Imogen almost to tears and they pledged to do all they could to help – starting by filling a supermarket trolley with supplies to donate to Bristol food banks.
They spread the word on social media to see if anyone else would like to donate and things quickly snowballed, with more than £1,500 raised in 24 hours.
is needed now More than ever
Determined to keep up the momentum, the sisters together with a small group of friends – who work in music, events, hospitality and healthcare – have launched a fundraising campaign and are working with food banks to ensure they buy items that are needed.
“As long as money keeps coming in and people need to be fed, we will keep this going,” says Chloe, who lives in Southville.
“The food banks are just overrun.”
Together with Imogen and friends, Fiona Riches, Jack Miller, Maia Dixon and Gemma Balding, Chloe has researched what to buy and how to maximise the money. The group has gone from filling a trolley to a van and hope to be a “support system for the support system” by buying supplies and delivering them to food banks.
They have already delivered a load to North Bristol food bank and will be heading to south Bristol next.
https://twitter.com/RoadsideMum/status/1348646428084760576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1348646428084760576%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fb247.staging.proword.press%2Fnews-and-features%2Fnews%2Fgrassroots-action-to-ensure-children-in-bristol-dont-go-hungry%2F
Describing the moment that prompted them to take action, Chloe says: “It was the photos of the free school meal parcels that triggered it. My sister is a chef and helps out with some local food charities anyway, so we were already aware of the key issues. We were almost in tears, we were just so upset thinking about how dehumanising it must be for parents to tell their children this is all we have got.”
Until recently, Chloe worked in the music industry and is now training to be a radiotherapist. She has received some comments suggesting it should not be down to volunteers to step up where the government has failed, but says this is a time to leave politics at the door.
“I think we need to focus on the problem and get people fed,” Chloe tells Bristol24/7.
“The most important thing we can be doing right now is making sure people have essential supplies.”
Chloe, Imogen and Gemma stock up on supplies to take to food banks – photo courtesy of Chloe Wood
Jack and Imogen filling Jack’s van with food supplies – photo courtesy of Chloe Wood
Donate to the fundraiser via www.gofundme.com/f/help-feed-bristol
Main photo courtesy of Chloe Wood
Read more: Grassroots action to ensure children in Bristol don’t go hungry
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