A Liverpool business owner who experienced food poverty as a child is among those rallying together to tackle the issue in Merseyside.
Laura Worthington, of Laura’s Little Bakery, has set up ‘donate a cake’ a new initiative that will supply a birthday cake to children whose parents are suffering.
The 42-year-old told the ECHO about how her struggle as a child and Marcus Rashfords’ efforts inspired her to help.
Laura said: “The decision by the Government to reject children getting free school meal vouchers is shocking.
“When I saw Marcus Rashford posting links and highlighting ways you donate I knew I wanted to contribute in some way.
“It’s an issue very close to my heart and I’ve personally experienced it as a child.
“You never really fully understand something until you’ve experienced it yourself, so I am keen to do what I can.”
Laura said after she lost her father at a young age she was left with ‘bare cupboards, begging local shops to give’ her food.
She added: “I did not have a cake as a kid, which is kind of ironic considering how many I bake in a week now.”
After her ‘donate a cake’ idea announcement Laura has been contacted by hundreds of other bakers and people who wish to donate money to fund more cakes.
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Laura said she is ‘overwhelmed’ by the kindness and the response her idea has had, she said: “Without getting emotional, it means a lot, when you're a kid in that situation, it's actually normal for you.
“You want a bit of sunshine in your life, and I think if someone bought me a cake on my birthday I’d have been made up.
“With so many people saying that they want to donate shows that they do understand the importance of it.”
For more information on how to contribute to Laura’s ‘Donate a Cake’ visit Laura’s Little Bakery Facebook page.
Laura's Little Bakery is just one of the hundreds of businesses and locals who are pitching in to help fight holiday hunger in Merseyside.
The ECHO reported business owners, including cafes, taxi firms and gyms also made kind gestures after the Government voted down the free school meal motion.
Visit our blog here that lists businesses across the region who are pitching in to help.
