Comedian tackles holiday hunger

Shonette Bason-Wood has taken to the streets to deliver free food packages to families most in need across the North East.

Families in highly deprived areas are most in need over the summer holidays when children’s free school meals stop and money has to stretch further.

Shonette said: “People don’t realise how big an issue holiday hunger is in this country, some parents will live off toast for weeks on end to be able to give their children proper food.”

To help combat the issue, Shonette, 46 from Wynyard, and the team from her educational company Spread the Happiness has raised over £18,000 for the hampers.

With help from her friends and family, she has travelled across the region to deliver packages filled with tins of food, toothpaste and toilet roll.

The ex-teacher kickstarted her campaign two years ago after seeing the hunger crisis first hand.

She is now expanding the model across the UK and recently visited South Wales to distribute 150 hampers to two primary schools.

Shonette added: “One mother I met at a school broke down after receiving her free hamper as she was so overwhelmed after being so worried about how she would feed her children over the summer holidays.”

Many feel the struggle over the six weeks holiday as children stop full-time education and stay at home throughout the day.

As bills go up, parents struggle to provide.

Shonette said: “It’s a terrible thing and we need to do as much as we can to support them.”