lunches – devizine.com

It was great to bump into Lunch Box Buddy in Devizes today. Last week was hectic for him; first BBC Wiltshire stopped by his stand in the Brittox, which was busy dishing out free lunches for children during the summer holidays, as is Buddy’s mission. Then came an appearance on Points West, and even Jamie Oliver shared his social media posts…..

Has the media exposure gone to his head?! He modestly agreed with me, that it was nice, “it shows I’m being acknowledged,” he smiled, and continued to help children decide what sandwiches they fancied. And therein lies the magic, there was never a feeling in meeting Buddy that he was here for prestige.

“He’s not doing it for media attention,” Buddy’s mum Emily clarified, “in fact he finds that quite overwhelming. He’s doing it because there’s families who need it, and that’s the reality of it. And if he can help those families to make it a little easier then that’s all he wants to do.”

There were sandwiches with various fillings, crisps, biscuits and fruit, even some toys. Folk gathered, no questions asked, no condescending notions, just a brilliant idea being put into motion by a teenager and his family. I asked Buddy if it was his idea, and how he came up with it.

“It was my idea,” he replied, still handing out apples, “and it originated from seeing some friends who were on free school meals, needing that extra help during the holidays too.”

Buddy and his family began funding it themselves and now it relies on sponsors and private donations. There may be a few charity-led organisations doing similar in other areas, but Buddy is the first person we’ve heard of individually taking this gesture of goodwill on themselves. I asked Buddy, not if he wanted to head a national charity doing this, for we joked he might end up sitting in an office! Rather if he feels he has, or will, inspire others to do likewise in other areas.

“Yeah, I could inspire some people, I hope so,” Buddy told me. “I’m doing it as an individual. I’m here three times a week, every week for the summer holidays, and there’s a thought I could do it at Christmas time.”

“It would be lovely if he did inspire other people,” Emily explained, “but his primary goal is to make sure that anyone who needs food in Devizes has food.”

In these trying times, I forever find myself shocked at rising supermarket prices. Accepted, I cleaned my rose-tinted specs declaring how big Wagon Wheels once were, and how they were ten pence, but this inflation issue is not showing evidence of slowing anytime soon. “Yes,” Emily agreed, “some schools and councils do provide ten pounds for the school holiday, but you cannot buy much for ten pounds, so what Buddy is doing really does make a difference.”

It really does. I left with a lump to the throat, and somewhat lost for words; rare for me, I know!! What a thoroughly decent, philanthropic and selfless way for a fourteen-year-old to spend their summer holiday. What an absolute legend, Buddy! Thank you.

Two things remain: firstly to any family in need, Lunch Box Buddy is outside Haine & Smith, next to Cafe Nero, in Devizes town centre, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for the duration of the summer holidays, from 11:30-12:30. Follow him HERE for updates, Facebook HERE.

Secondly, to Devizes Town Council; you know I love you all, (wink!) this lad deserves a Civic Award, imho!