A trio of Richmond organisations are working together on a scheme to feed 2,600 of our schoolchildren this Christmas.

It will ensure they are fed a good lunch for the two-week Christmas holidays.

The initiative called Feed Our Richmond Kids is being supported by the Vineyard Community Centre and Richmond Council.

This week they launched an online drive to raise the £85,000 needed to feed all Richmond children who receive free school meals.

Donations can be made on the Virgin Money Giving page here and this is what Fork says.

Dear friends and friends of friends,

We all applaud Marcus Rashford' campaign #endchildfoodpoverty: at the moment we have 2,600 children in Richmond who depend on free school meals each weekday and in these Covid times more and more families are struggling financially.

There is currently no central government money to fund food vouchers for them this Christmas, and though there is speculation that some extra money might be available in November, no one knows what that will be. I'm not prepared to gamble Our Kid's Christmas on rumour, would you?

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Feed Our Richmond Kids is working in partnership with the Vineyard Community Richmond Food Bank and Richmond Council to try to raise £85,000 to provide food vouchers to all these children over the holidays (2,600 x £30 plus estimate of Virgingiving fees).

Just £15 will give one child lunch for a week. £30 will feed them for the Christmas holidays.

Please join me this Christmas in supporting our Richmond kids or the number of hungry children in our borough could fill thirty double decker London buses every day of the holidays.

Related coverage:

Sarah Olney MP on free school meals vote and vouchers

Vineyard Centre shop finally reopens but forced to close 3 days later

These are our neighbours, our friends and we need to raise this money now. Are you able to donate?

Together we can do this!

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If we do not raise enough money, I will work with the council to make sure that our funds are distributed equitably to those in most need. If we raise more money that is needed, you can be confident that your money will still be used to Feed Our Richmond Kids and support 400 pre-school children in the borough who are at risk of holiday hunger.