Derry cafe offering 'Free Kids Meals' through the summer

A Derry cafe is offering ‘Free Kids Meals’ throughout the summer on a week-to-week basis for families that receive free school meals.
Last year, a government scheme provided vouchers through the summer holidays while schools were closed to support families that would struggle to feed children without free school meals.
Claude’s Cafe posted on social media, offering to help these families.
Owner Declan Moore said: “We are in an area where things are very tight.
“The uplift that the families would have gotten during the summer holidays last year wasn’t going to be made this year, and so for me, it was a no-brainer to offer the same again because the circumstances in real terms are actually worse.”
The 55-year-old has been pleased to see the positive reaction to the post from Monday, July 1, as many people from the community have offered to help this campaign.
He said: “More so than businesses, the good old Derry public, which are fabulous, we have had a few people step forward saying they will do the deliveries, and a few other people have come to the shop to make donations.”
And Mr Moore said that he is in a privileged position not to worry about these things for his family.
But as a proud Derry man, he wants to be able to help his local community, which has been kind to him over the years.
“We have been here for 25 years, and so the first thing is to try and do the right thing, to try and give back within our own local community,” he said. “I will always want to see the best within our local community; I wouldn’t want to see anyone struggling.
“We try to sponsor local clubs where we can; we try to help out locally where we can; and, like I said, if everybody does a small amount, there is only so much we can do, but I think if everyone gets involved in doing something, it makes a huge difference to the overall picture.”
As part of the social media post, there was a call made to other businesses to help their scheme.
Mr Moore said he would want to be able to provide everything needed to cover the families in need over the summer period, but with the potential demand, he is hoping other businesses and people can support him.
He said: “We want to do this on a week-to-week basis to see what we can manage going forward, depending on who helps, if anyone helps, as there is only so much one individual or business can do.
“Anybody that wants to help out they can give us a message on our Facebook page.
“Other businesses as well, feel free to jump on board with us, as apart from anything, I’m sure that within a week or two, I’m sure kids will be bored of eating just our stuff, so if someone else wants to get involved, it would be nice for a bit of variety as well.
“So, if other businesses or other people within the community are in a similar place to me and they can help out, then absolutely reach out by direct message through a private message and we can take care of it there.”
If you wish to receive meals for your children, just call the shop at 02871 279379 between 11am and 1pm and order your kids meals.