College helps to ‘shell out’ tasty treats for Easter
HOPWOOD Hall College has donated over 400 Easter eggs to a foodbank, just in time to put a spring in the step of local children receiving them over the Easter weekend.
A total of 410 of the chocolate treats were donated to Rochdale Foodbank last Friday (3rd April) for distribution to families in need of emergency food packages.
It is not the first time that the college has worked together with the foodbank - Uniformed Public Services students spent time volunteering there last Christmas, helping regular volunteers organise bulk donations over the festive period.
Simon Rogers, teaching assistant for Uniformed Public Services a course that prepares students for careers in institutions including the army, police force and prison service - had to pack his van full of the eggs to transport them to the foodbank in one go.
The former police officer said: “It’s quite humbling when you get involved in this kind of thing and realise what kind of impact you’re having.
“It’s something we’re proud that our students get the opportunity to experience.
“We’re very pleased that this donation is going to help people. I think it’s nice for people to see that the College is leading the way and doing something for the community.
“We’d love to see more people following our lead and making things easier for local people in the weeks and months ahead.”
All the eggs had to be quarantined for a number of days before they could be distributed to local children this weekend, and Rochdale Councillor for Wardle and West Littleborough John Taylor met Simon at the foodbank to help put the goodies into storage.
Coun Taylor said: “The Easter eggs are a brilliant donation because they put a bit of light into people’s lives, especially at the moment when some are really struggling.
“When money is tight due to these troubled times, the first things to go are the little luxuries like Easter eggs. Sadly, it is normally the children who suffer by going without things like chocolate.
“The College is shining a light on what is a very dark situation for many families in Rochdale. Thankfully, 410 children will now get an Easter egg who wouldn’t have got one otherwise.”
More information is available on Rochdale Foodbank’s website about how to support the charity during the coronavirus outbreak