FAMILIES entitled to free school meals in Carmarthenshire will be able to collect food packs from Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn from tomorrow (Thursday, March 26).

The council has teamed up with Cross-Hands based Castell Howell and other suppliers to the schools catering service to provide food for children registered for free school meals.

The packs will contain breakfasts and lunches for five days.

They can be collected from all 12 secondary schools – including Newcastle Emlyn - across the county between 9am and noon, Monday to Friday:

Free sanitary products will also be available at all of the collection points as part of the #PeriodPovertySirGâr project.

Executive board member for education and children’s services Cllr Glynog Davies said: “It is vitally important that we continue to provide free school meals during this extremely difficult time.

“No child who would ordinarily receive a free school meal should go without while their school is closed or while they are having to self-isolate at home.

“We have more than 5,000 children registered for free school meals in Carmarthenshire and I want to reassure families that we will do all we can to help them.

“We have tried to cover as many parts of the county as possible by using all secondary schools as collection points together with some primary schools. However, if there are some families that do have genuine difficulty in reaching these locations, please get in touch.

“We are also extremely grateful to Castell Howell and all our suppliers for their support in helping us to arrange this so quickly.”

The situation will be continually monitored and if there is a demand for further collection points this will be looked into. The opening times may also be extended if needed.

If you are unable to collect your food pack email direct@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01267 234567.

In Pembrokeshire, those eligible for free school meals will be provided with a breakfast, lunch and snack for their child/children on a daily basis (Monday–Friday).

Contact the Catering Service and have the following details at hand:

• The name of your child/children

• The school(s) they attend

• Any dietary information (vegetarian/allergies etc)

• Your contact details.

Parents/guardians will also need to let the service know which school you would like to collect the meal from.

You do not have to pick-up from your child’s school. If an alternative pick-up point is closer to you, for example, you can choose that school to collect the meals from.

If you also become eligible for free school meals over the next coming weeks, contact the details below.This option will also be available over the Easter Holidays.

Email cashless.catering@pembrokeshire.gov.uk or telephone any of the following numbers:

01437 775943; 01437 775922; 01437 775912; 01437 775949; 01437 775250.

In Ceredigion, a supermarket voucher will be provided to all pupils currently receiving free school meals. Vouchers will either be emailed or posted to parents/guardians.

For further information, contact 01545 570 881 or e-mail clic@ceredigion.gov.uk.