You can bank on us!
Community comes to the rescue after Loaves and Fishes crisis
Murray Primary are one of many local schools, community groups and businesses giving generously to cris-it-hit food banks in East Kilbride this week.
Ten-year-old pupil Dillon Christie led a collection for Loaves & Fishes after reading in the News that the charity had run out of food for the first time in its 26-year history.
Head teacher Irene Tremble said:“The school community’s response was very positive with more donations coming in than we have ever collected before.”
Over the last few weeks we have told how greater levels of hardship are forcing hundreds of desperate folk to knock on the doors of the town’s food banks.
Loaves & Fishes chair Denis Curran MBE said: “It was privilege to attend Murray Primary’s Harvest assembly.”
Community spirit is alive and well in East Kilbride as generous donations continue to pour in for the town’s food banks.
Over the last few weeks, the News has told how greater levels of hardship are forcing hundreds of desperate folk to knock on the doors of Loaves & Fishes and East Kilbride Community Food Bank in order to feed their families – wiping out emergency supplies.
But the kind-hearted people of East Kilbride have answered their desperate pleas for donations in their droves with dozens of schools, community groups and local businesses offering help.
Ten-year-old Murray Primary pupil Dillon Christie is one shining example of human kindness featured in the News this week.
Touched by the plight of those less fortunate, the P6 pupil spearheaded a collection of food donations during the school’s Harvest appeal.
Head teacher Irene Tremble explained: “Dillon helped type up a letter to parents and carers requesting their help and has been collecting the food from classes every day, encouraging generosity. The school community’s response was very positive, with more donations coming in than we have ever collected before, giving the children a real life situation to develop their life skills.
“Staff and parents were overwhelmed and delighted with the contributions which were put on display during our Harvest assembly before being collected by Loaves & Fishes.”
And the generosity didn’t stop there, with children from St Leonard’s Primary also pitching in to help Denis. P6 and P7 pupils who received the Pope Francis Faith Award – after demonstrating kindness, patience, goodness, gentleness, joy, self-control, peace, generosity and love – launched an appeal on behalf of the Kelvin-based food bank.
Head teacher Lorraine Mullen said: We are extremely proud of our pupils for organising and co-ordinating this appeal and wish to convey our thanks to the wider school community for their contributions and donations.”
Denis Curran MBE told the News: “The Harvest collected from schools this year was absolutely tremendous, what effort put in by children. It was privilege to attend Murray Primary’s Harvest assembly which was brilliant – their harvest literally filled the van. A big thank you to the EK News for keeping the plight of families in the news.”
EK Community Food Bank was also given a cash boost when Tesco St Leonards presented them with a cheque for £1000. The charity took third prize in the store’s Bags of Help scheme.
Organiser Karen Dornan said: “We are very grateful to Tesco Bags of Help for contributing £1000 to EK Community Food Bank. We are thankful to our many supporters who voted in the store as part of the Bags of Help appeal and are encouraged by the support we receive from local businesses.”