Pharmacy Daily | UK pharmacy’s foodbank pledge

A BRITISH pharmacy is doing its bit to help disadvantaged families put food on the table by donating this week's earnings to a local foodbank.

The Coventry-based Vantage Chemist announced plans to support families affected by the British Government's refusal to extend free school meals for children in England over the mid-term break, on Mon.

"With the loss of free school meals support for this half term week, especially in these most difficult of times, we at Vantage can't let our local community suffer like this," the store's owners said in a post on Facebook.

"We are pledging to donate the proceeds of our takings this week to Coventry foodbank, to directly help those in need in our community."

The store is also providing support for families who rely on the free school meals by offering discounts on children's medication, cold and flu treatments and toiletries.

The store's owner, Gurbaksh Singh, told Chemist and Druggist, that the pharmacy had launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the city's foodbank, after the Government blocked efforts to extend free school meals during school holidays until Easter 2021, last week, which has raised 240 ($442) to date.

"Our local community is in an impoverished area, so if we can help children thrive, it will help [improve] things in the future," he said.

"The community is the main part of our role; we [want to help] the local population here. In a modern world, I think some people forget that we're here to look after our community."