A foundation set up in memory of teenager Noah Donohoe has funded 500 children's breakfasts at a north Belfast cafe to help struggling families amid the cost-of-living crisis.
The Noah Donohoe Foundation yesterday announced a number of grant recipients including Use Your Loaf bakery and cafe on the Antrim Road.
The business runs a breakfast club seven mornings a week to help children who may be in need of a meal.
The young people using the free service, which runs from 7am until 9am, receive a bowl of cereal, toast, fruit, a cereal bar and a drink.
North Belfast man John Kelly, who owns the business, recently extended the service until 10am to provide breakfasts to pensioners also.
The Noah Donohoe Foundation was set up in memory of 14-year-old t Malachy's College student went missing in June 2020.
His body was found six days later in a storm drain in north Belfast.
Yesterday, the foundation announced it was giving £1,000 to the Steiner School in Holywood, the Westwell Being Centre and Use Your Loaf Bakery.
In addition, £2,000 was also given to St Malachy's College.
Speaking to The Irish News, John Kelly said the grant from the Noah Donohoe Foundation would make an "unreal" difference.
"It was a friend of mine who put us up for the donation. He knows what we are doing in the community and our focus lately," he said.
"Kids in our area are going to school without breakfast. In our shop, we run a free breakfast club for kids who are hungry. No judgment on anybody.
"The choices that people are making at the minute are scandalous.
"The donation will cover 500 breakfasts".
The father-of-five said: "Kids should not be going to school hungry. It is heartbreaking.
"The money will help us run the breakfast club for so much longer".
The businessman said the public could also donate to pay for a breakfast through the free Use Your Loaf App.
Niamh Donohoe, Noah's aunt, said: "Noah's birthday is approaching next week, we had discussed making grants to mark it this year.
"A few people have come forward and nominated charities and groups that would greatly benefit from grants from the Noah Donohoe Foundation and `Use Your loaf' was one nominated.
"There are so many people struggling and good people out there trying to help the most vulnerable in society and Use Your Loaf is helping feed children in Belfast that need it.
"What better place for Noah's Foundation to be able to help. We hope we can continue to help more people going forward just as Noah would have done in life and no doubt would want us to do with his legacy.
She added: "We can't bring Noah back but we can continue to do good in his name via the Noah Donohoe Foundation".
