Women join forces to help feed hungry kids
THE Women of Whitworth Project and Basil’s Bar and Grill teamed up to help ensure that no child went hungry during the half term break.
More than 800 meal bags and food boxes were supplied to children and families in crisis over five days.
It followed the controversial vote by MPs not to extend the free school meals scheme.
Kimberley Ashworth, of The Women of Whitworth Project, said: “I have young children and the thought of other children going hungry really upset me.
“I knew how I wanted to spend my week off work so, juggling caring commitments, I set into action, and contacted local busi
●●The Women of Whitworth Project and Basil’s Bar and Grill have teamed up to help ensure that no child went hungry during the half term break nesses, residents and schools to find out what we could do as a community.
“One of the families hadn’t been able to open their front door for weeks as they couldn’t afford to get the repairs sorted, but I managed to arrange a local tradesman to sort their problem.
“We had children cheering at a meal.
“Families crying because they were so thankful of a meal.”
Danni Bunnell, owner of Basil’s Bar and Grill, on Market Street, Whitworth,
said: “I was really keen to get involved and instantly became the main base for the week, ensuring that no child went hungry.”
The project started receiving crisis calls on October 25 from families saying they hadn’t eaten a hot meal in weeks, with reasons cited from ill health, to redundancy, to furlough schemes.
They arranged for the restaurant to prepare meals and Kimberley delivered (wearing PPE) to each of the households. On the same day, the volunteers met to discuss how they could help with the food share.
Danni and Kimberley wish to thank all the volunteers involved as well as Whitworth Town Council and Rossendale
Borough Council for their support.
Over the next few weeks, they will be planning for Christmas meal packs for families.
If you wish to find out more please email thewowproject2018@ gmail.com .