Penny Lancaster issues emotional plea as she throws support behind new project

Rod Stewart's wife Penny Lancaster has pleaded with fans to help feed hungry children during the school holidays. The 54-year-old mum of two is throwing her support behind The Felix Project, who supply needy and struggling families with food. However, the star is concerned that some families may fall through the cracks during the school holidays and urged her followers to support the charity. Posting a picture to Instagram of two people from the charity delivering food she wrote: "Every week @thefelixproject provides food to over 170 schools across London, who then give it to parents to help them cover the costs of feeding their family. But what happens during the holidays?

"Right now, schools are closed so that support is not there, and free school meals are also not available. It all adds up to extra financial pressures on family budgets, many of whom are already struggling. For these families and their children holidays equal hunger," she penned.

"In London, Felix is doing all it can to help, with 50% of the community organisations they support experiencing increased demand during this time, they are stepping up and putting on hundreds of extra deliveries including to 28 schools who are staying open this summer!

"But they need more support. Please donate to their summer appeal, £45 enables Felix to rescue enough food to feed three children throughout the school holiday. Help The Felix Project feed families and make holidays equal happiness not hunger!" she implored.

According to the charity's website up to 98,000 children in London could experience hunger during the summer holiday in the absence of school dinners.

They aim to prevent this by rescuing high quality, surplus food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to over 1,200 community organisations across the capital.

"We rescue good, surplus food from the food industry that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste and deliver it to hundreds of food banks, charities, primary schools and holiday programmes in London," they explain on their website.

"This is high-quality and nutritious, with the majority being fresh fruit and vegetables. We collect or receive food from hundreds of suppliers, including supermarkets, wholesalers, farms, restaurants, and our food reaches vulnerable children and families, the homeless, the elderly and those who simply cannot afford to buy regular, healthy food.

"Last year, we gave out the equivalent of 38M meals to over 1,200 community organisations and schools across every London borough.

"50% of our rescued food is delivered to community organisations within the top 5 most deprived neighbourhoods in the capital," they said.