Making Holiday Hunger a Thing of the Past
The Holiday Food Club was first set up in 2012 when it was recognised that there was no provision of food in the holidays for local school children and their families who are in receipt of pupil premium (free school meals) during term time.
We all know that the school holidays put extra pressure on families with the need to feed hungry children and provide entertaining activities. For families whose children normally get a free hot meal at school everyday, the holidays are a particularly difficult time.
The Holiday Food Club is now part of the newly formed Dorchester Family Support charity (registered in 2020) and is still run by a team of volunteers, many of whom are from the local churches. We aim to help families on a low income by providing a nutritious food parcel each week during the summer holidays and a special hamper at Christmas. Parcels contain fresh food such as meat, cheese, eggs, fruit and vegetables and a bag of tins and packets such as baked beans, pasta and rice.
In order to provide this service we fundraise throughout the year and rely on donations from all the local churches, Dorchester’s Food bank, Dorchester Poverty Action, the Town Council, Dorchester Chamber of Business, Dorchester & District Lions Club, Rotary Club, Poundbury Community Trust, local supermarkets and many other community groups and individuals.
