Mum makes sure pupils are kitted out for school
A MUM has held a school uniform donation day to help families in need get kitted out in time for schools restarting next month.
Alison Spencer, 53, from Chorlton, came up with the idea after she thought about how families in the area might be coping during the current pandemic.
“We have a Covid-19 page for our area and someone asked how we were feeling about coming out of the pandemic,” Alison, who lives on the Mersey Bank estate, told the M.E.N.
“I said I was a little bit scared but also hopeful about the future. I mentioned that it’d be nice to have something set up for people to donate uniforms to those who might be struggling.
“I was originally going to organise a ‘take what you want’ thing in my front a school uniform donation day garden but I found out the Barlow Moor Community Centre was reopening and asked them if they’d be able to host it.”
Alison, who has two sons Owen, 13, and Marcus, 11, was inundated with donations after announcing the event.
“I could probably open up my own shop with the donations I’ve received,” Alison said.
“A lot of the local schools have also helped us out. The caretaker at Chorlton High School gifted us four bags of items from their lost property. Barlow RC High have also said they would be donating a uniform to a family.”
“One of my sons will be starting at Loreto in September so I know exactly what it’s been like.
“At a time like this, utility bills and food bills are higher. Knowing that you’ve then got to go out and spend up to £300 on a uniform can be really stressful, but to have that little bit of help might take that burden away.”