M&S Hartlepool backs Marcus Rashford campaign by helping to feed over 200 children at town family centre

Kilmarnock Road Children & Young People Family Resource Centre, at Owton Manor, is working to ensure that no child goes hungry through its partnership with M&S at Anchor Retail Park.

M&S Hartlepool Team Support Manager Carol Heaton helps coordinate regular food donations by the store to the children’s centre where her sister Ann Heaton is the manager and Carol also volunteers.

With over one in four Hartlepool families living in food poverty the store has been supporting the charity for three years.

Carol said needs of the most vulnerable in communities have increased during the pandemic.

Since March M&S in Hartlepool has stepped up its donations providing over 6,700 meals to the Kilmarnock Road centre.

That is up by more than half after the introduction of a new online platform called Neighbourly which allows the store to alert their charity partners quicker to surplus food available.

Donated fruit, veg and meat is collected daily by the charity’s volunteers and made into nutritious, wholesome meals.

Carol said: “I feel truly humbled when I see those children enjoy their meals and to know I’ve made a small contribution to that.”

M&S is also a member of footballer Marcus Rashford’s Child Food Poverty Task Force.

Scores of businesses and community groups all over the country, including in Hartlepool, have given free food out to children this half term after answering a call by Rashford.

Kilmarnock Road centre manager Ann said: “The pandemic has presented some very harsh challenges in our community and we couldn’t manage without the support we receive from local businesses such as M&S.

"During the school holidays, that support is more vital than ever and the daily fresh food deliveries we receive from the M&S store go a long way, not only to help feed children attending our youth club services, but to make fresh food parcels for families that are struggling to put meals on the table.”

The centre is also helping families living below the poverty line to address their financial and emotional wellbeing concerns and support those without jobs back into work.

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