Further to the announcement on Saturday, Bolton Council has committed £50k from Bolton’s Fund to provide free school meals to children across Bolton during half term.
Families that receive free school meals can call the helpline on 01204 337221 and a package of food items will be provided to enable families to make lunches.
The packages will be delivered to homes the same day or the day after.
The council is also starting to plan ahead to support parents during the Christmas holidays.
Cllr David Greenhalgh, the Leader of Bolton Council said: "Bolton Council will not let children go hungry over the half term break and this is consistent with our ongoing policy to support the most vulnerable across the whole of the borough.
“This is on top of our main food support which is via our Local Welfare Provision Scheme and our Humanitarian response.
“In terms of Local Welfare Provision, anyone claiming that meets the criteria would automatically be awarded four food packages over a period of four weeks.
"In terms of the covid-19 helpline and humanitarian offer we can also provide food via the food hub run by Urban Outreach if families are in financial difficulty.
“Through a DEFRA grant, we have also recently prioritised children and families, by giving £250,000 to the Bolton Fund for community groups and organisations which prioritise those areas to apply for who have schemes that tackle child poverty, support parenting through emotional and practical advice and offer food parcels, and household goods."
Local charity Urban Outreach are kindly providing this service. Dave Baguley, Chief Executive of the charity said: “We are happy to be supporting free school meals and continuing our long term partnership with Bolton Council.
“As a charity we are committed to addressing poverty in Bolton in its many forms.
“Helping children is so important, not only at half term but for the future too.
“We urge anybody in need to please come forward and call the helpline.”