31 Mar Pennyfarthing Homes pledges its support to local families

With the fear of up to 1.3 million children, entitled to free school meals, at risk of going hungry due to the coronavirus crisis, local developer, Pennyfarthing Homes has donated funds and resources to local schools to help ensure that children continue to get access to school meals during the schools’ shutdown. Milford on Sea Primary School, Priestlands School and Fordingbridge Infant and Junior School were delighted to receive the offer of support, which will also help local families in need.

The three Hampshire based schools will be able to use the donations towards ensuring that children who depend on them, will still receive hot dinners during the crisis. At Priestlands School, the donation will support a minibus service delivering food to help families in need as well as the food bank at the school which will distribute family food packages.

Pennyfarthing Homes’ Executive Chairman, Mark Adams said: “We are a locally based family firm and like so many, wanted to help. At a time like this Pennyfarthing Homes felt this was an effective and direct way to make a difference to some of the families locally who may be struggling to cope in the current COVID-19 crisis.

“The schools know and can decide where best to deploy the funds, where support is most needed so releasing extra cash from our community support programme directly to the schools gives them that flexibility. The situation is changing daily and with the current three-week lockdown and many school children having to stay at home, making sure they are fed and taking the pressure off parents is vital. We are just happy that we are in a position to help.”

Responding to a local appeal from New Forest Basics Bank, Pennyfarthing Homes has also provided a minivan and driver to transport food from Waitrose supermarket and depot to Lymington Food Bank. The van will also be used to carry out much needed deliveries by the food bank, which has moved from a three to a five-day week in response to the crisis. The food bank has already sent 170 parcels to Arnewood School.