A Derry restaurant owner is offering free lunches to children to help families in need through the Covid-19 lockdown.
Declan Moore, owner of Claude’s Café on Shipquay Street, hoped the move would ensure that no children “went to bed hungry” in the current crisis.
Mr Moore has a long history of providing food for people in difficult circumstances. For the past 15 years he has been opening his restaurant on Christmas Day to provide Christmas dinner and gifts to those in need or living alone.
At the start of the first lockdown in March, he launched his latest initiative to ensure children did not suffer through being off school. This week, Mr Moore re-launched the initiative.
“I believe there are a lot more families struggling this time around so we’re doing this for kids who are not at school. It’s not just for children who free school meals but for any families who are struggling,” Mr Moore said.
Mr Moore sees himself and his business as a conduit for other business owners and other people to help those struggling at present.
“Loads of people help us do this. I am 52 and I never cease to be amazed by how many people are willing to help,” he said.
Since launching the move, business people throughout the city have come on board to offer whatever help they could.
“We’ve had taxi drivers coming to us offering to delivery meals, even up to ten miles away to places like Eglinton,” he said.
Mr Moore urged any family who found themselves in need of the service to contact him at 028 71 279379.
“If you can collect at our shop on Shipquay Street, that’s great. If not, we can try our best to deliver. This service will be rolled out for the rest of the week for starters,” Mr Moore said.
