Staff at a Derby school are set to give up their spare time to deliver food hampers to families living across the community to help them through the cost-of-living crisis during the summer.
The hampers, which contain everything from tinned vegetables to cornflakes to pasta, will be handed out to the households this week after the items were donated to a food bank organised by The Bemrose School, in Uttoxeter Road.
The school got involved with helping out in the community two Christmases ago, when staff, working in conjunction with Derby’s Food 4 Thought Alliance, brought in food and gifts for families to tide them over the winter period.
With students on summer break and families feeling the pinch on their budgets, school staff have once again stepped up to fill over 60 food bags with essential staples and a few treats to help through the holidays.
The food bank has been co-ordinated by Beaulieu Watson, head of Year 10 at the school, who said staff have surpassed themselves this year, complementing the food with play equipment for children to play with, including footballs, basketballs, fidget spinners and skipping ropes.
The Food 4 Thought Alliance is once again involved, alongside Derby-based Audrey’s Charity, which is run by Earl Richards and Natasha Cover, supports local families who are struggling financially.
Beaulieu said: “When we started our food bank we gave parcels to 25 families and now we have 60 who we will be delivering food to throughout the week, just to ease the pressure off them.
“We help all sorts of families in all kinds of situations, all of whom have asked for a little help. It’s only the staff who have donated items and they’ll be delivering the hampers using their own cars, but students have been giving up their spare time to help us pack the hampers.
“Our philosophy is that even one item makes a difference and staff have really responded. Everyone has been extremely generous and they will really help a lot of people this summer.”
Bemrose student Grace Orieoluwa Idowu said: “The food bank is a good idea and I like helping out.
“We all need to help each other and things like this give people a better chance of life. It shows that there is always hope somewhere.”
ENDS
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