No child should wish for food this Christmas.
They shouldn't, but unfortunately some will. The shocking reality is that many families across the UK are struggling to provide their children with enough food to eat, which is why we're launching this emergency appeal.
68% of Action for Children family support services are seeing children who are hungry and not getting regular meals.
Action for Children works with many children who don't eat regular hot meals. Their families are often facing some impossible choices like whether to pay their rent or heating bills, or pay for their weekly food shop. They can't do both. Can you imagine having to make such a decision?
There are vulnerable children across the UK who are facing a very bleak Christmas this year. They are hungry and worried, and desperately need your help.
With your support we can provide struggling families with emergency food parcels, making sure they have regular meals to eat. A gift of just £10 could pay for a week of hot meals for a hungry child, or help us to run breakfast clubs so children can get a healthy start to their day.
Ryan’s story;
When five-year-old Ryan's dad lost his job, the family didn't know where to turn. Ryan's mum was heavily pregnant and they were living in temporary accommodation. They had no furniture and were sleeping on bare mattresses.
Ryan and his brother and sister stopped asking for toys and sweets - in fact they stopped asking for anything. Although he was only five, Ryan knew all too well that his parents were very sad, and he was growing up too fast.
Mum felt ashamed about asking for help, but when she came to an Action for Children project she broke down and told us everything. A few days later, a staff member came round to the family home with two weeks' worth of shopping. When they put the bags on the table, Ryan and his siblings cried with happiness at how much food there was.
Even after that, Ryan never expected he'd be celebrating Christmas that year. His parents had little money for food, let alone presents. So when Action for Children arrived with gifts for the children, they couldn't believe it. Ryan's little brother Harry thought Father Christmas had visited - and in a way he had!
Ryan's support worker Sue worked with Ryan's mum and dad to get them the help they needed. From buying credit for Mum's phone, to providing food parcels and intensive support, Action for Children staff supported the family every step of the way. They even went to the children's school and explained the family's situation to their teachers.
This Christmas will be a much happier one for Ryan and his family. Action for Children continue to work with him, his parents and his school to turn his life around, and he's now a happy, healthy little boy.
Please, make a donation today and help us to be there for families like Ryan’s this Christmas.
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