Pupils at a Derby secondary school are showing they have bags of kindness as they pack hampers to support families in need.
Eight students from Murray Park School in Mickleover have spent the day packing food hampers for families in need across the school community, working alongside staff to prepare and deliver essential supplies.
The initiative, which runs twice a year before the summer holidays and again at Christmas, has become a much-loved tradition at the school since it was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To fill the hampers, the whole school community gets involved, with parents making donations, money raised through non-uniform days and each year group contributing a different food item or household essential.
Year 9 pupil Tibby, said: “This is the second year I have done this and I hope to do it every year. I feel really good knowing that I have helped families who need it.
“It can be really stressful getting everything together, but it feels amazing once it’s done because you know it is going to make such a difference for somebody.
“It’s great how many of my peers get involved by donating things, but we can always do with more support because every donation helps.”
Families who would benefit most are identified by heads of year and the pastoral team before being contacted privately to see if they would like to receive support. Once confirmed, each hamper is personally delivered by careers lead Tim Taylor.
Twenty families will receive a hamper this summer, with each one tailored to suit the size of the household. Every package contains essential food items including pasta, tinned goods and cupboard staples, plus toiletries and household essentials, while larger families receive additional supplies to meet their needs. At Christmas, the hampers also include festive treats and gifts.
The student volunteer team, made up of six year nine and two year eight pupils, spends a full day off timetable organising and packing the hampers, using their break times to make sure everything is ready, with the Christmas hampers taking an additional day to prepare.
Head of careers education and guidance, Jan Woolley first introduced the scheme during the Covid lockdown after seeing increasing numbers of families struggling to put food on the table.
She said: “This initiative grows every year and I am so pleased to see how our pupils respond and genuinely want to help.
“There are now more food banks in schools than there are McDonald’s restaurants and that is a huge national concern.
“I have heard of children attending school trips with nothing more than an apple in their lunchbox because families are struggling. We want to do everything we can to make sure no child goes hungry.
“During the pandemic, I found myself regularly donating to supermarket food collections. After speaking to the headteacher, I suggested that we create our own hampers for families within our own school community who we knew needed support.
“Six years later, we are still here making sure our children and their families know they are not alone.”
The school’s commitment to the initiative has also been supported by a recent £1,000 contribution from one of its suppliers.
Acting Headteacher George Hagen, said: “I am immensely proud of Jan, Tim and every student who gives up their time to make this initiative such a success, plus those who donate and help in their own way.
“The difference these hampers make to families is incredible, but they also have a lasting impact on the pupils involved.
“For many young people, having food in the cupboards or receiving expensive presents at Christmas is something they have never had to think about. This project helps them understand that not everyone is as fortunate and inspires them to make a real difference to the lives of others.”
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