Sawtry Foodbank has stocked up its food parcels for schoolchildren in need this summer thanks to a donation from a local housebuilder.

Vistry East Midlands, which is building new homes in the village under its Bovis Homes brand, has contributed £129.60 to cover the cost of filling out food parcels with long-life milk for the foodbank’s Summer Scheme.

The Summer Scheme provides primary and secondary school pupils in Sawtry who receive free school meals with essential food items over the six weeks of the summer holidays.

Pat Furzeland, Sawtry Foodbank supervisor, said: “During the six weeks of the school holidays, our Summer Scheme delivers essential food that provides nutrition and energy for growing children.

“Milk is an important part of the food parcel, and we will deliver an estimated total of 162 litres of milk during the six weeks of the scheme.

"This wonderful donation from Vistry has enabled us to provide milk to every child benefitting from the scheme.

“These food parcels are vital as they make a big difference to all the families who are in need of support during this difficult time.

"We’d like to say a big thank you to Vistry for their help and support with this local scheme in our community.”

This year, the initiative will support 17 families during the school break, helping to feed 38 children a week from five different schools.

Sawtry Foodbank – part of the CARESCO charity based off Green End Road – also provides emergency food parcels to local people in crisis every week on a Friday afternoon.

Weronika Maslak, sales manager at Judith Gardens, said: “Sawtry Foodbank is a much-valued facility in the local community, and has become even more crucial in recent months due to the rising cost of living.

“The Summer Scheme is a fantastic initiative which helps vulnerable families in need throughout the summer break, providing children with essential food items.

"We are pleased that our support will ensure more children in the village will enjoy the nutritional benefits of having milk as part of their diet throughout the holidays.”

To find out more information about Sawtry Foodbank, visit www.caresco.org.uk/?page=foodbank