Guernsey food bank prepares lunchboxes for 400 children going back to school

The food bank at Holy Trinity Church is run by dedicated volunteers. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Guernsey's largest food bank is helping more than 400 hundred children going back to school on 8 June.

Guernsey Welfare has started a new 'back to school' initiative to help parents struggling with food bills.

So far, more than 180 families have been catered for, with enough food for lunches to last the week. Volunteers have worked to ensured each 'lunchbox' contains the right food to make balanced meals.

Included is bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, butter, tuna, cheese, mayonnaise, yoghurt, snack bars and crisps.

Sue Le Friec is the service coordinator and recognised that some parents have been financially stretched during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lauren Gauvain is a single mum to Frankie, aged two, and Maisie, aged five. She has not had as much income during lockdown as she has not been able to do her part time job.

Maisie is going back to school on Monday and needed new school shoes which meant Lauren could not afford to do the weekly shop.

She put her name down for the 'back to school' initiative and received a bag of food. Lauren says she is "really grateful" to Guernsey Welfare for helping her in this way.

Lauren Gauvain says the pandemic has put "financial strain" on her family. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Guernsey Welfare runs the food bank at Holy Trinity Church all year round but demand has risen since March.

The food bank is supported by many churches, people and businesses. It relies on financial donations as well as donations from supermarkets in Guernsey.

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