Cost of living help as church gives children lunch

The idea was to find a practical way to help people in the cost of living crisis

Free packed lunches to help families during the summer holidays are being provided by a Coventry church.

Volunteers have been making up bags containing sandwiches, crisps and fruit for children of school age, and lunches have been handed out on several days in August.

The Reverend Matthew Bull, who has been vicar at St John of Divine Church in Willenhall since last December, said he applied for funding from a church scheme and received nearly £500.

Most of the food was paid for by the Tesco Community Champions Scheme, with supplies then supplemented by the church, he said. Dates were posted on social media.

The vicar said the church had aimed to find a practical way to help the low-income community, adding: "If you're a kid and you're hungry, come along."

"We've kept it very simple. Children usually like very simple choices, so they have a choice of wonderful ham, delicious cheese, or jam," he said.

"There is water, we may have cartons of juice next week, but there's plenty of water.

"We have a choice of crisps and we have a piece of fruit."

Niraj Gupta, who is from India and has been living in Coventry for the past two months with his family, said his two children had been able to enjoy the lunches and it had given them a chance to "get to meet other kids as well".

Volunteers told BBC Radio CWR they took part to help families because they did not like the thought of people going hungry and they wanted to help out.

Niraj Gupta said his children enjoyed the food and meet other youngsters

Mr Bull said: "Having a church that is showing the love of God through really practical ways – sandwiches and drink – shows people that we're not a stuffy, kind of aloof organisation, we are a community building and sharing the love of Jesus as far and as wide as we can."

Tesco Community Champions are shop workers who care about their community and are available to help people and groups, according to the supermarket chain.