With thousands of children across Leeds relying on schools to provide them with a healthy meal every day, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown up a massive problem.
More than 25,000 youngsters across the city are entitled to a free school meal, but with the majority of youngsters now back at home for the foreseeable future, there is a real risk that many families will not be able to afford to feed their children.
However, Leeds City Council has quite literally stepped up to the plate to ensure the children do not go hungry during the lockdown.
Catering Leeds, which provides food for roughly 70 per cent of schools in Leeds, has been putting together thousands of lunch boxes every single day, which are then delivered to those most in need.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, executive board member for learning, skills and employment at Leeds City Council, said: "As a child friendly city we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that our most vulnerable children and their families continue to get the additional support that they need throughout this crisis.
"We want to thank our colleagues in Catering Leeds for their amazing effort and commitment to providing 14,000 free school meals each day, in these unprecedented circumstances."
It is one of a number of critical services still being offered to the most vulnerable people in Leeds at this difficult time.
Contingency plans are being drawn up to ensure care homes are properly staffed and that residents remain safe, while a huge city-wide volunteering scheme has seen more than 4,000 people already sign up to help those in need of a helping hand.
