Sunderland's City Tea Rooms doubles its free school meals slots after overwhelming demand

And customers have been chipping in cash themselves to help feed more kids.

A Labour motion calling for the free meals scheme to be extended over school holidays until Easter next year was defeated in the Commons, and Wearside businesses were quick to step in with offers of help.

Among the first were Ashley Hammond and Dave Carter, who run the City Tea Rooms in Sunderland city centre’s St Thomas Street.

They posted on the venue’s Facebook page: “Every Day next week Mon-Fri we are going to give families a FREE sausage & chips meal with a cup drink for your child/children.”

Now the cafe has posted again to say it is doubling the number of pick-up slots available, with free meals on offer from 11am to 1pm, rather than noon, today, Thursday, October 29, and tomorrow.

Cook Kayley Corbett said staff had been amazed by the response.

"We have had people coming from as far away as Pennywell. One lady walked all the way from Roker to get a meal for her children.

"Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of and if people come in, we guarantee them absolute confidentiality.

"We have also had a few people donating money, which we have been able to put towards buying more produce. Customers have been coming in, buying a meal, and then leaving money at the side of the till so we can help more people.”

In order to ensure social distancing, meals must be ordered in advance through the City Team Rooms Facebook page.

The Roker End Cafe, next to the Stadium of Light, has been offering free packed lunches and working with organisations such as the Foundation of Light and Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project to distribute them.

Manager Liam Burnham said: “It has been going really well.

"It is great that in times like this, when a lot of businesses are suffering, they still want to support their community. It is probably the hardest time ever for businesses, especially in the hospitality sector.

“We just wanted to play our part.”

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