THURROCK Lunch Club celebrated its second birthday this week. The club, which opens in school holidays to provide meals for those children in the community who rely on Free School Meals during term time. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the Lunch Club has opened three days a week every school holiday since summer 2012 and recently served their one thousandth meal.
To celebrate their two-year anniversary, 28 children, four carers and the team ate hot dogs and party food and played party games. The children also made cupcakes and iced them for the party. Instead of a birthday cake they enjoyed apple crumble with candles on top. Several of the guests at today’s celebration joined the club when it first opened and are still current members.
Elle Knight, Thurrock Lunch Club Co-ordinator, said, “Thurrock Lunch Club has become an important part of the school holidays for many families – providing fun activities, hot food and great role models for local children.
"It also gives opportunities to carers, many of whom are out of work when we meet them, to build their skills and confidence as part of our growing team. For many families it’s about community, and having a club they can come to without it costing the earth, where they can make friends and eat a healthy meal.”
