TWO SCHOOLS in the North-East have received a donation from supermarket giant Iceland and a food charity in a bid to tackle holiday hunger in the face of the free school meals controversy.

Corporation Road and Harrowgate primaries, in Darlington, have received free school meals parcels to give to struggling families, donated by Iceland and The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT).

Corporation Road Primary ran a raffle to choose which families would benefit, with many saying the donation would "really help them".

One or two refused the donation, head teacher Ann Pringleton said, as "maybe another family would benefit more this time around".

Mrs Pringleton said: "As a school we are very grateful to Iceland and That Bread and Butter Thing, which we have been a hub for since before lockdown.

"Some children talked to staff yesterday about how sometimes they are hungry and families are finding it difficult to get shopping, especially in lockdown when some families are worried about leaving the house to go to the supermarket.

"Picking food up from outside the school makes this less daunting, especially in these difficult times."

Each parcel contains the equivalent of a standard weekly family pack from TBBT, including fresh fruit and veg as well as cupboard staples making up £40 worth of food essentials.

The scheme runs across Greater Manchester and Darlington, supporting 650 families who are eligible for free school meals in efforts to ease holiday hunger.

Mark Game, charity chief executive, said: "Making sure that low income parents can feed their families is what TBBT is all about. We know that 80 per cent of our members have gone hungry in order to feed their kids and as the effects of Covid continue to bite, we know that more people than ever will need support this half term and on throughout the winter."

Iceland are long-term supporters of TBBT and has donated the equivalent of 25,500 meals in the last 12-months.

As a member of Marcus Rashford’s Child Food Poverty Taskforce, Iceland is also offering free pack of frozen vegetables to families using Healthy Start Vouchers or a Best Start Foods card until December 31.

Mum-of-four Nicola, and regular TBBT member said: “This is going to be an enormous help. The thing about The Bread and Butter Thing is that you are never made to feel that you are being judged – no one’s looking down their nose at you."

The donations are addition to the free school meals support already seen in Darlington, funded by a crowdfunder, local businesses and charities across the borough.