Sheffield businesses start serving free meals as cafe owner says ‘kids should never go hungry’

Man United star Rashford had demanded the Government extend the scheme to cover school holidays - but it refused.

The soccer ace then retweeted a series of food establishments that offered free meals to children during the break instead.

More than half a dozen businesses across Sheffield and South Yorkshire are dishing out free meals to children during half term- one of them is The Rhubarb Shed Cafe on Manor Lane.

The Sheffield and South Yorkshire businesses giving free meals to children this half term

Owner Tony Dunn, 40, said it was “unconscionable” to leave children hungry and was inspired by Rashford’s mission.

The dad-of-three said it was paramount that communities came together as families have been struggling through the pandemic through “no fault of their own”.

His 60-seater café will offer children an option of a sandwich, cupcake or hot chocolate next Thursday (Oct 29) and said they will keep serving food until they run out.

He said once they’ve run out they will find something else to cook up as “children should never go hungry”.

Tony, who has owned the café for ten years, said: “When I saw that the MPs voted against it I thought it was awful.

“Children are completely innocent and they should never go hungry. It's unconscionable to let something like this happen.

“I’ve seen people say that parents on the dole should be feeding their children but our community was hit hard by this pandemic.

“Many of the families who can’t afford food at the moment are people who have been working, but are now in a terrible situation through no fault of their own.

“I think it’s just so important that as a community we come together and do every little bit we can.

“Seeing Marcus Rashford fighting has inspired many people, and I’ve seen so many restaurants and cafes trying to help out in any way they can as a result.”

He added: “It’s sad that it took Rashford going through all of this for some change to happen but we must see the positives.

"This is an incredible movement, and it’s great to see communities banding together.”

Tony, who runs the café with his wife Paula, 34, said he’s not a political person but that children going hungry “isn’t political”.

He said: “My wife and I have been working here for ten years and we’re the least political people you’ll ever find.

“But children going hungry isn’t political. It’s something that just shouldn’t happen.”

"We can only do so much, but I think it’s so important that we lift people’s spirits as we’re going through incredibly difficult times.

On Twitter Mr Rashford hailed a Sheffield pub after offering to supply packed lunches for children over half term.

Sheffield pub, The Handsworth Inn, took to social media to inform its customers that they would be putting together packed lunches to help ‘take some stress away from struggling parents.

Marcus Rashford pays tribute to Sheffield pub for putting together packed lunches over half term