The Socialist Group in Orihuela has announced a motion to be presented at the upcoming City Council Plenary Session, proposing the extension of school meal grants to cover the summer holiday period. The initiative is aimed at ensuring continued access to food for children from vulnerable families once the school year ends and existing school meal support ends.
Spokesperson Carolina Gracia highlighted that many families struggle during school breaks, as their children lose access to the subsidized meals they depend on throughout the academic year. Although the city offers a summer school program and support from the Social Welfare Department, Gracia said these measures are not sufficient to meet actual demand. The proposal includes the creation of a Child Protection Fund within the city’s budget, which would include a dedicated allocation to maintain meal assistance during holidays.
Citing data from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics, Gracia noted that nearly 7% of children under 18 in Spain cannot afford adequate protein intake. With rising food prices, this issue becomes even more urgent, and families fear the end of the school year due to the disappearance of essential food support.
The PSOE also calls for the revival of social intervention programs, including the Alondra Project, previously run by the association Vega Baja Acoge. The project supported minors with schoolwork and provided food support. Gracia stressed that such programs address real needs and should not be replaced by purely recreational activities.
The Socialists hope the motion will be supported by other political groups, urging the local government to see the proposal not as criticism but as a step toward making Orihuela a leader in social support. They emphasize the importance of moving beyond minimal solutions and investing in lasting, meaningful support for struggling families.
