Whitby cafe owner helps feed kids over half-term after she received free school meals herself
Lois Mee of 'Hetty & Betty' wanted to get involved in efforts to provide free food for children this week because of her own experiences as a child
A Whitby cafe owner who's provided free food for kids in the town whose parents have been struggling financially this half-term says she's done it because she received free school meals herself when she was a child.
Lois Mee, of 'Hetty and Betty', is one of a number of Yorkshire Coast businesses who've stepped in to help this week, after last week's controversial decision in parliament not to extend the free school meals scheme over the holiday.
Lois said:
"Although Whitby appears to be an affluent area, it's actually a disadvantaged area, because it has low wages and a lot of the employment is seasonal.
"The causes and the reasons for the need for school dinners has been debated for years and years, but we need to help these kids now.
"One of the biggest obstacles that we've found this week is that there's still a stigma around accepting help. We've had around 10 families take us up on it, it's lower than I would have expected, but there's probably reasons for that.
"30 some years ago, I myself was a child that needed that helping hand, I myself was in receipt of free school meals. Through support like that, I was able to work extremely hard, to a point now in my adult life where I own a business and I employ staff.
"If you invest in that child now, and if society as a whole shows that child that they've got worth and value, that child will grow up to feel a valued member of society and they will work hard and they will one day be in a position, as I am, to help the next generation come through."