Businesses donate more than 80 food boxes

More than 80 boxes of food, clothes and summer essential have been donated

Businesses in Reading have donated more than 80 boxes of food, clothes and summer essentials to support thousands of vulnerable children.

The donations have been made to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

They were organised by Reading Business Improvement District (BID) and Reading town centres' business community.

Reading BID manager Alexa Volker said: "We are very proud of the way that our town centre businesses and their staff have stepped up."

The HAF programme, which is run by Brighter Futures for Children, a body supported by Reading Borough Council, helps almost 5,000 local children who are entitled to free school meals.

Donations included 103 water bottles, 200 toothbrushes, 35 boxes of cereal, 70 kg of pasta, 200 cans of tinned food and 92 packs of sanitary products.

Maria Young, a director at Brighter Futures for Children, said: "It’s wonderful that we can join forces to provide these much-needed essentials for children to take home after their activities."