A charity has issued an urgent plea for donations to support thousands of families facing increased food bills during the six-week summer break. More than 51,000 children across Sussex and Surrey will lose access to free school meals when schools close for the holidays.
FareShare Sussex and Surrey is seeking financial contributions for its Summer Hunger Appeal, which helps families whose household budgets are already under intense pressure. A national tracker from the Food Foundation found that four children in a classroom of 30 are going without regular food, highlighting holiday hunger as a growing issue for local communities.
Impact on Families and Working Households
Dan Slatter, chief executive at FareShare Sussex and Surrey, said: "The summer holidays should be a time for enjoyment, but for thousands of local families it brings the burden of higher food bills and increased childcare costs. When schools close for the break, free school meals stop overnight, creating an immediate gap in household budgets. Parents are left to find an extra £15 to £20 per child every week simply to keep food on the table."
Data from the Child Poverty Action Group shows that almost three-quarters of children in poverty live in working families, meaning the struggle to buy food affects employed people as well as those out of work.
Community Support and Dignity
Heather Pearcey, who helps run a parent teacher association pantry at Elm Grove Primary School, said: "As the school holidays approach, many of the families we support are worried about how they will manage. The food we receive from FareShare Sussex and Surrey plays a vital role in helping families get through the summer holiday with dignity."
The charity rescues and redistributes surplus food to 307 community groups across both counties, combating hunger, preventing waste, and reducing carbon emissions simultaneously. A representative from Guildford-based St John's Community Support said: "We launched SJCS because there was a deeply concerning need for food support during the summer holidays. The need hasn't gone away – we simply couldn't do this without FareShare Sussex and Surrey."
Personal Stories and How to Help
A mother from Bexhill who uses the Marketplace community food larder weekly said: "It helps out so much. It makes a big difference to the shopping bill which frees up money for things like shoes and all the other things the little one needs. I'd be lost without it to be honest."
Visit the website to find out more about FareShare Sussex and Surrey or to support the charity's Summer Hunger Appeal at faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk/donate/.
