A thoughtful town councillor has spent much of her summer making packed lunches for school children and families in need in the Swansea and Neath area - and giving them out for free. Lauren Heard, who represents Cefn Saeson ward on Neath Town Council, decided to offer the free packed lunches when she heard that the Welsh Government had stopped free school meal provisions for children during holidays and half term breaks.
Concerned this could mean several children could go without lunch or their parents and carers could go without food in order to feed their children, Lauren took it upon herself to stock up on bread rolls, crisps, yoghurts, pieces of fruit, chocolate bars and cartons of fruit juice so she could prepare sandwiches and a full packed lunch for "families who really need it".
In early August Lauren took to social media to advertise her free packed lunches and her post has been shared more than 850 times, with many local residents praising Lauren for the "amazing" act of kindness. "Please share - Free packed lunches for school kids," she wrote on Facebook. "I'm making FREE packed lunches for children in Neath and Swansea over the rest of the summer holidays. This is to help families who really need it so please only use this service if you need it. If you require a lunch for your child please DM [direct message] me to arrange collection/drop off. It will be completely discreet and no questions asked. No child should be left hungry so please share this post."
Read more:The free school meal offer for children in primary schools in Wales next term
Over the last five weeks Lauren has made up more than 50 lunches and she has pledged to continue to make lunches for the last week of the summer holidays if families need them.
"I wanted to offer free packed lunches during the summer holidays as I understood that the Welsh Government had stopped the continuation of free school meals throughout this year's summer holidays," Lauren told WalesOnline. "Some local councils are continuing to help their communities by providing them with a payment to cover children's meals throughout the holidays, however this is not something that was offered by the councils surrounding my area."
Asked if schools and local councils should do more to ensure children, especially those who typically receive free school meals during term time, are fed during summer holidays, Lauren continued: "I definitely think more should be done to ensure children who are entitled to free school meals are fed throughout the school holidays. I believe that no child should go hungry [and] it has been heart-breaking to read all the messages I've received from parents who are struggling to feed their children and learn of the stresses and struggles they are facing in ensuring their children are getting fed, when they've previously received support from their school."
"I've made up over 50 lunches. I didn't expect such a big response and it has made me realise how many families and parents are really struggling to feed their children during the summer holidays with the removal of the free school meals payment," Lauren added. "I do my best to accommodate people who have requested a lunch and try to get to them as quickly as possible."
If you'd like to request a free lunch for your child, you can message Lauren on Facebook here. "I recommend that people who need a lunch request one ASAP due to high demand, and as I am doing this by myself, I need the time to organise and prepare the lunches. No questions are asked and all communication remains confidential," Lauren added.
Is there someone in your local community who deserves a shout-out, or a new initiative you think our readers would like to know about? Get in touch by emailing molly.dowrick@walesonline.co.uk.
