Harvest Festival donations have been flooding into Southend Foodbank for this year’s harvest appeal.

They have asked schools to take part in the ‘Make A Meal’ Harvest Campaign and choose to donate items for a breakfast, dinner, five-a-day or something sweet. The aim is to work together to create a well balanced three-day food parcel for someone in food crisis.

Cass Francis, foodbank campaigns coordinator, said: “This Harvest we have asked local schools to think about the importance of working together as a community to support each other. Schools took part in our ‘Make A Meal’ Harvest Campaign, using the hashtag #LETSMAKEAMEAL.

“So far, we’ve had over 20 schools donate more than three tonnes of food to us, with more donations due to come in after half term. That’s over 7,000 meals already for people in financial distress and unable to afford to feed themselves or their children.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the children and staff of the schools that have taken part.”

Southend Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Contact Southend Foodbank at info@southend.foodbank.org.uk, via mobile at 07456 426203 for general enquiries and at www.southend.foodbank.org.uk.