Chichester pub The Eastgate steps in to help hungry children over half-term

A Chichester pub has joined the fight to stop children going hungry over half-term.
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The Eastgate in The Hornet announced over the weekend that it would be offering free meals to families in need of support over half-term after the Government voted against providing free school meal vouchers during the holiday.

Landlady Catherine Morgan said: "I have got two little ones so anything like that is always close to our hearts. I couldn't believe it when the government decided not to continue with it — half term is only a week."

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Catherine said customers at the pub have helped to support them since they took it over 12 years ago.

Landladies of The Eastgate, Emma Allen (left) and Catherine MorganLandladies of The Eastgate, Emma Allen (left) and Catherine Morgan
Landladies of The Eastgate, Emma Allen (left) and Catherine Morgan

"We thought, we have always been supported by our customers, it's lovely. We have had some great responses from people."

The Eastgate is not the only venue to be offering people support during half-term, The Hole in the Wall in St Martin's Street has its own offering and Fenwick's in Priory Park is also offering a similar service.

Catherine added: "It's been lovely and it is nice to see some local support."

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The pub will be offering a packed lunch complete with a bottle of water, a packet of crisps, home-made biscuits, a sandwich and a piece of fruit.

A post on the pub's Facebook page has drawn a positive reaction from residents.

The post reads: "We have children of our own and believe strongly that no child should go hungry. In these tough times we want to give back to our local community that have been supporting us so much.

"So we have decided to offer free packed lunches to all those children that should have been provided with free meals during school holidays.

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"So from Monday 26 to Friday 30 we will be offering takeaway packed lunches for pickup from 11.30am to 1.30pm Monday to Friday. Orders must be placed before 11am on the day of pickup.

"Packed lunch includes sandwich (Cheese, Ham, Tuna & Egg Mayo), fruit, crisps and a bottle of water. To order please call 01243 774877 or email us at [email protected]."

Chichester MP Gillian Keegan, Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith and Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb all voted down the motion raised by Labour which called for the extension of free school meal vouchers into the holidays until Easter 2021 for families in receipt of Universal Credit or an equivalent benefit.

Are you offering something similar? Let us know by emailing [email protected]