FEAST, which stands for Families Eating And Sharing Together, is an initiative that began at Tonbridge Methodist Church and has been taken up by other churches in the town.
As well as providing lunches for families on low incomes, the group also has a community store where those in need can obtain essential groceries and other household products.
One of the project’s founder volunteers is Sarah Hardcastle, Pastoral Support Officer at Woodlands Primary School.
She welcomed the Rotary Club’s support, saying: “What we do here is vital for families who often struggle to provide meals during school holidays.
“This is especially true of those who get free school meals but is not restricted to them. Many families who are in work but just fail to qualify for benefits find school holidays a huge financial challenge.”
Last Christmas the project expanded to include a festive offering, and for the lunch at the Methodist Chuch on December 23 families were treated to a home-cooked Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and a visit from Santa, who had a gift for every child.
FEAST operates during every school holiday with lunches also being served at St Philip’s, Tonbridge Baptist Church and Christ Church.
This Christmas there were four meals provided – including one in Otford, near Sevenoaks, for the first time – with 40 people coming to each one.
