Non-profit that helps families with school lunches sees increased need
Since starting in April 2023, Lunchbox London has delivered 997 food bundles to families
It started off as a small Facebook group helping families trying to make ends meet by dropping off lunch snacks for school-aged kids.
A year and a half later, Lunchbox London is a registered non-profit that's delivered just shy of 1,000 food bundles and shows no signs of slowing down.
"We both work full-time jobs. We rent, we don't own a car. We're not privileged ourselves, but we just want to help," said Colin Everitt, the community outreach coordinator for the charity, which he runs with his wife, Alexandra.
"It's super time consuming but it's super rewarding. There's a large need in the community."
After starting in April 2023 when their son came home and asked why some kids don't have school lunches, the couple officially registered Lunchbox London as a charity in November 2023. The first annual report was published earlier this month, spelling out a mission to address food insecurity among school-aged children while reducing food waste in landfills.
"We like to focus on rescuing food that is close to expiring and making sure it goes to people," Everitt said. The couple has started working with other charities that donate food and cash so they can purchase produce.
Families get two bags per family, one filled with snacks such as crackers and fruit cups, the other with staples such as fresh bread, cheese and yogurt. "We also fill that bag with additional vegetables, whatever we can get. We go to the family's home and we ask them to pay it forward when possible."
Most families reach out when they're in desperate need and have exhausted other resources, Everitt said. "They're at their lowest point. We don't ask questions, we're not there to poke and prod. We know they're going through a tough time," he said.
Donations can be made on the non-profit's website, which also features an Amazon wish-list.
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