More than 50 local children enjoyed an end-of-summer BBQ hosted by volunteers as part of a Grantham firm’s campaign to provide more than 500 free meals during the six-week school holiday.
Employees from Totemic Ltd provided, prepared, cooked and served everything for the occasion, which took place last week (Thursday 29 August). This included a host of healthy food, which the children tucked into during their final play scheme day at Balderton Scout Hut, organised by Newark and Sherwood Community Hub. Before the BBQ, the volunteers also hosted a range of activities, including garden games, egg and spoon racing and t-shirt decorating.
Jill Musson, Play Scheme Leader from the Hub, a charity that provides play opportunities for children in the area, said: “Totemic has been a wonderful support throughout the summer and the children have loved helping to prepare and eating the food, which was a fantastic addition to their play scheme experience.”
Thursday’s BBQ marked the finale of Totemic’s first campaign to provide free healthy meals to children who attended Newark and Sherwood Community Hub summer camps during their school holidays. As well as three visits to Balderton Scout Hut last week (27-29 August), Totemic’s volunteers made four visits to Coddington Primary School from 20-23 August.
Grantham families also enjoyed free hot meals, subsidised by Totemic, from Monday 26-Friday 30 August during a lunch club that was held at the Baptist Church on Wharf Road.
Totemic incorporates a range of financial services companies, including one of the UK’s largest free debt help providers, PayPlan, which spearheaded the campaign to support the national Holiday Hunger initiative.
Rachel Duffey, CEO of PayPlan, said: “As PayPlan helps thousands of people every day who are in debt, we are often approached by those who are struggling to meet basic living costs, including food and utility bills. The summer holidays can put an additional strain on parents’ budgets, so offering free food for local their young ones whilst they’re away from school is just one thing we can do to help.
“Newark and Sherwood Community Hub is a super initiative and its play schemes are a wonderful way of providing fun activities and healthy food. It was lovely to meet the children and see them enjoying themselves and we’re already thinking about how we can help even more families next year.”
Jill continued: “I can’t thank Totemic and its volunteers enough for the generosity, kindness and enthusiasm during all their visits. Their help has benefitted so many families and we’re all very grateful for the assistance.”
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