MORE underprivileged children will get free nutritional lunches this year thanks to increasing donations to children's welfare charities, given by people from all walks of life, according to a report released recently by the Shanghai Charity Foundation (SCF).

"From this academic year (September 2005 to June 2006), we will expand our 'love-heart meals' from the current 2,000 children to 10,000," said Ma Zhongqi, spokesman of the SCF.

In the past 11 years, SCF has spent 5.75 million yuan (US$692,700) on the "love-heart lunches" project. Altogether 7,188 daily and all-year-around free lunches have been offered to local primary- and middle-school children whose families suffer from economic difficulties.

Children at local middle and primary schools who meet the requirements can apply for the free lunches at their schools.

Another piece of good news for local children is the opening of a charity hotline (6277-6351) specifically dedicated to children's healthy growth.

The hotline, put into operation on the eve of International Children's Day, gives free consultation on psychological, educational, physical health and nutritional problems of children.

"Children are facing more problems related to broken families and study pressures than any generations before," said Hu Qingli with the Shanghai Research Centre on Care for Children.

In Shanghai, there are some 3 million people under 18 years of age.