McDonalds Rashford
The fast food giant has joined Marcus Rashford’s campaign to feed families most in need

McDonald’s has offered one million free meals for families, after Marcus Rashford called for the most vulnerable youngsters to be fed over half-term.

The fast food giant has joined the Manchester United and England striker’s campaign and will provide funding to FareShare so food can be ‘urgently redistributed’ to households ‘in greatest need’.

Rashford has pleaded with the government to offer free meals to school over the holidays through to next Easter, but MPs voted down the motion.

However, pubs and cafes up and down the country have stepped in to plug the gap by encouraging families to get in touch and offering food during the October half-term.

Paul Pomroy, CEO of McDonald’s for UK & Ireland, said of the deal with FareShare: ‘As a business we are committed to supporting and serving the communities in which we operate.

‘In these challenging times, we know it’s more important than ever to support those most in need.’

Lindsay Boswell, FareShare CEO, added: ‘McDonald’s is showing real leadership in supporting the most vulnerable in society to get access to healthy food at this critical time.

‘The funding will enable the equivalent of 1 million meals to be redistributed to our charity network very swiftly, and we are very grateful for their urgent support.’

Rashford, 22, has been described as a ‘hero of our times’ after his campaign to provide free meals to children during the school holidays prompted an outpouring of support on social media.

He posted a string of tweets to his 3.6 million followers on Thursday night and Friday morning, highlighting cafes, bars, restaurants and other organisations who had volunteered to help children going hungry, adding that he has been ‘blown away’ by their ‘selflessness, kindness and togetherness’.

Among the businesses and organisations around the country who offered free food were tea rooms, churches, farms and takeaways.

Liverpool City Council and the Greater Manchester region both announced subsidised food schemes in the wake of Rashford’s campaign, shortly after both areas went into the toughest lockdown tier in England.

EMBARGO: Marcus Rashford opens Fairshare depot PA
The 22-year-old has been described as ‘a hero of our times’ for his efforts (Picture: PA)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 Handout photo issued by Fareshare/Mark Waugh of England football star Marcus Rashford visiting FareShare Greater Manchester at New Smithfield Market with his mother (left), which is naming a new warehouse in her honour. PA Photo. Issue date: Friday October 23, 2020. The pair's visit to FareShare Greater Manchester came a day after a Labour motion for the free school meals scheme to be extended over school holidays until Easter 2021 was defeated in the House of Commons. See PA story POLITICS Schools Fareshare. Photo credit should read: Fareshare/Mark Waugh/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Marcus Rashford visiting FareShare Greater Manchester at New Smithfield Market with his mother (left) (Picture: PA)

Announcing plans for food vouchers via the Co-op, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham tweeted: ‘Was good to tell @MarcusRashford that we, his home city-region, aim to be the first in the country to achieve his vision.’

After unveiling a similar scheme in his city, Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson tweeted: ‘Families are struggling more than ever to make ends meet. No child should have to go hungry and in Liverpool we won’t let them. Thanks for your hard work and campaigning @MarcusRashford.’

A host of celebrities also offered their support to the England star, with journalist Caitlin Moran tweeting: ‘Marcus Rashford’s timeline swells your heart – people across the country doing something about feeding kids at Christmas.’

Musician Tim Burgess, a fellow Mancunian, tweeted: ‘Wow, @MarcusRashford is a true hero of our times. So many MPs should feel shame over the fact that a footballer is helping the needy, more than they are.’

Support also came from across the football world, with ex-England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker posting: ‘Well played @MarcusRashford. Check his timeline. Extraordinary from a remarkable young man.’

Rashford was recently awarded an MBE for campaigning efforts that prompted a Government U-turn on the subject of school meals this summer.

After the enormous response to his latest campaign, he tweeted: ‘Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term. Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know.

‘Add #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY to your tweets so I can track them. I will share as many as I can.’

And on Friday night he tweeted: ‘I’m signing off with a feeling a pride tonight. The superstars of this nation lie in local communities. Even after taking the biggest hits you have wrapped your arms around your community to catch children as they fell. I really can’t thank you enough, you’re amazing.’

Here is a list of some of those businesses who have promised to take part

Local businesses and organisations:

The Greystones – Sheffield

Kingfisher Fish and Chips – Hull

The Courtyard – Birmingham

Farm Fresh – Nottingham

Rayrayz – Liverpool

Birchwood Autumn – West Lancashire

EJF Buffets and Banquets – Solihull

St James Church – Rawstenall

The Loft Cafe Bar – Bingley

The Gilt Rooms – Essex

Oliver’s – Surrey

Delphine Fish and Chips – Heeley

Pearson’s Bar – Hull

Toast 2 roast – St Helens

The Panda Club – Liverpool

Manjaros – Middlesbrough

Mumtaz – Leeds

Barry’s Tearoom – Cumbria

The Rhubarb Shed Cafe – Sheffield

The Vale Cafe – Rothbury

Warrens Fruit and Veg – Watford

Jenny’s Brackley – Brackley

The Fun House – Whitehaven

Jo’s Place – Wilmslow

Bowring Park Cafe – Shropshire

Greenfields Farm – Telford

Minikin Art Cafe – Manchester

Babuls – Teesdale

The Sandwich Shop – Rotherham

Khandoker – Didsbury

The Hawthorne – Warrington

The Watering Can – Liverpool

The Pudding Pantry – Nottingham

Patna – Leek

Astoria Bar – Urmston

Belluno – Devon

Aubergine Cafe – Wirral

The Crown Inn – Bristol

The Courtyard – Wigan

The Handsworth – Sheffield

Bakers – Bolton

Lucid Games/Tranmere Rovers – Wirral

Royal and Derngate – Northampton

The VIllage Fish Bar – Bamber Bridge

Bik Smoke Brew Co – Surbiton, Kingston, Hammersmith, Weybridge, Chichester, Wokingham

Pavilion Street Kitchen – Cornwall

Count House Cafe – Cornwall

The Art House – Eastbourne

Market Hill Fisheries – Winterton

Kingfisher Fish and Chips – Hull

The Poachers – County Durham

Cafe Baraka – Cleethorpes

Jordan’s Cafe – Worthing

Duke’s Head – Great Yarmouth

Weoley Castle – Birmingham

Portofino Ristorante – Harrogate

Lillies Coffee Shop – Rotherham

Kimble’s – Billingham

No Bones – Hastings

Tintinhull Village Hall and Coffee Shop – Yeovil

Councils and regional authorities:

Greater Manchester City Region

Telford and Wrekin

Redbridge

Oldham

Greenwich

Liverpool

Kensington and Chelsea

Cheltenham Borough Council

Doncaster

Southwark

Hammersmith and Fulham

Wandsworth

Portsmouth City Council

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.