STAFF at a Mickleover school have set up a food bank on site so they can distribute supplies to pupils’ families who are struggling financially during lockdown.
The PRIDE Response Team has been set up at Murray Park Community School and staff are appealing for donations of non-perishable food, toiletries and household items so they can distribute them to needy or vulnerable families.
Staff are delivering the emergency food parcels personally and are also offering to collect donations from people who are not able to visit the school in Murray Road.
Teacher Jan Woolley was moved to set up the PRIDE team, which stands for Providing and Resourcing the Immediate Delivery of Essentials, after concerns from staff that some families were suffering hardship during the current pandemic.
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She was also concerned that despite the school’s best efforts food vouchers for those children who receive free school dinners were slow to come through.
Miss Woolley said: “Every member of staff at Murray Park tries to go above and beyond to ensure the absolute best for our children. We are living in extraordinary times and I felt it was important that we do everything we can for our families.
“During lockdown, our heads of year have been in regular contact with our vulnerable families and we all felt that a food bank was something that could make a difference to some pupils’ lives.
“While some of our pupils come from disadvantaged homes there are also some families who have never been in this situation before. Perhaps because they are not able to work or have been made unexpectedly redundant.
“Our Head of Finance was working from 5am to 11pm to try and organise food vouchers for the children who normally receive free school meals and hopefully our food bank will add to the support these families require.”
A non-contact collection point has been set up in the school’s main reception where items can be dropped off between 9am and 2.30pm Monday to Friday.
The school has published a list of required goods on its website but is appealing for donations of food such as pasta, cereal, rice, tins and tea or coffee as well as deodorant, shampoo, toilet paper and handwipes.
Household items, baby supplies and feminine products are also required and parents are also being invited to make financial contributions via the school’s ParentPay system.
Miss Woolley added: “Our parents and staff have already stepped up to the plate – within an hour of launching PRIDE we had had three emails from parents wanting to donate and staff have offered to donate and deliver.
“We encourage all our pupils to think of others and it’s important for staff to set the right example, so this is one way of doing so.”
Headteacher Nicola Caley said: “I am tremendously proud of Miss Woolley and the team who have organised this food bank out of compassion for our families who are struggling in these unprecedented times.”
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