MARCUS RASHFORD has refused to give up after the Government rejected his plea to not scrap free school meals during the summer holidays.
The England star, who has raised £20million to feed three million kids a week across Britain, called on the Government to keep the scheme alive, despite trying times.
Marcus Rashford has spent Monday passionately fighting the Government to help feed hungry kids in need
But after a spokesperson for the Department for Education revealed they could not go ahead with it, Rashford, 22, called on his Twitter followers to keep pushing.
Rashford tweeted: “Wow, just got home from training and I’m blown away with the support.
“It’s not over yet, let’s keep retweeting and tagging local MPs.
“We need to be the voice for those 200,000 children who have no choice but to skip meals today, I refuse to give up.”
Earlier, a spokesperson for the Department for Education said: “As schools open more widely and their kitchens open, we expect schools to make food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that are eligible for free school meals who are not yet able to return to school.
“Where this is possible, schools can continue to offer vouchers to eligible pupils.
“Free school meals are ordinary term time only and the national voucher scheme will not run during the summer holidays.
“However, as announced this week by the Prime Minister, the local authority welfare assistance scheme will provide help those to who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to the impact of Covid-19.
“£63million is being allocated to this important project.
“Thousands of children will also receive additional support through our Holiday Activities and Food programme, which offers activities and free meals throughout the summer holidays.”
‘FIND YOUR HUMANITY’
On Monday morning, Manchester United star Rashford begged Government officials to keep the scheme alive.
In a letter, Rashford wrote: “The Government has taken a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to the economy.
“I’m asking you today to extend that same thinking to protecting all vulnerable children across England.
“I encourage you to hear their pleas and find your humanity.
“Please reconsider your decision to cancel the food voucher scheme over the summer holiday and guarantee the extension.
“This is England in 2020, and this is an issue that needs urgent assistance.
“Please, while the eyes of the nation are on you, make the U-turn and make protecting the lives of some of our most vulnerable a top priority.
“I have listened when fathers have told me they are struggling with depression, unable to sleep, worried sick about how they are going to support their families having lost their jobs unexpectedly.
“Headteachers who are personally covering the cost of food packages for their vulnerable families after the school debit card has been maxed out.
“Mothers who can’t cover the cost of increased electricity and food bills during the lockdown, and parents who are sacrificing their own meals for their children.
“In 2020, it shouldn’t be a case of one or the other.”
Marcus Rashford teamed up with FareShare to provide 3million meals per week for kids in need
Rashford has been inspirational in his fight to feed needy kids
Rashford previously revealed how his family relied on breakfast clubs and free school meals as a child, and does not want other children to miss out.
In the letter, Rashford added: “This summer should have been filled with pride once more, parents and children waving their flags.
“But, in reality, Wembley Stadium could be filled more than twice with children who have had to skip meals during lockdown – 200,000 children according to Food Foundation estimates.
“As their stomachs grumble, I wonder if those 200,000 children will ever be proud enough of their country to pull on the England national team shirt one day and sing the National Anthem from the stands.
“Can we not all agree that no child should be going to bed hungry?”
Rashford has been tipped for a knighthood and Sports Personality of the Year win for his incredible work with FareShare.
But, in his impassioned open letter to all 650 MPs in the House of Commons, including PM Boris Johnson, Rashford insisted so much more needed to be done.
Rashford helped raise over £20m for FareShare
Rashford is being tipped for a knighthood for his kind workCredit: BBC
He continued: “Whilst the campaign is currently distributing three million meals a week to those most vulnerable across the UK, I recognise it’s just not enough.
“Food poverty in England is a pandemic that could span generations.
“Whilst 1.3million children in England are registered for free school meals, one quarter of these children have not been given any support since the school closures.
“From 2018-2019, nine out of 30 children in any given classroom were living in poverty in the UK. This figure is expected to rise by an additional one million.
“Forty-five per cent of children in black and minority ethnic groups are now in poverty. This is England in 2020…”
Man Utd star Marcus Rashford calls on Government to end child poverty in emotional letter after raising £20MILLION for charity
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
