Big-hearted students praised
“I was overwhelmed by the response to this appeal” KERRY KILMINSTER
Youngsters at a Sunderland secondary school have been praised for their support of vulnerable people in the community.
Staff at St Aidan’s Catholic Academy’s Immersion Project, which this year is to support the vulnerable and less fortunate members of the Sunderland, have been overwhelmed by the hard work and generosity of the students.
The young people have been particularly supporting those who find themselves relying upon foodbanks.
Kerry Kilminster, a member of staff at the school, said: “We have linked up with Connect Network, which is a network of Christians, churches and communities coming together to bring about transformation of Sunderland.
“In the lead up to Christmas, the academy collected food items to send gifts of love in the form of Christmas hampers.
“The response we had was overwhelming with donations being made on a daily basis.
“Some students brought in bags full of goodies, one sixth form student donated his Christmas bonus from the supermarket he works at, another student’s mother enlisted the help of her slimming class and donated at least six big bags full, plus three hampers themselves, there are countless other stories of support that could be told.”
But, this is not the end of the collecting, the appeal for food donations will continue throughout the year and the students and staff will be continuing to support food banks in the city.
As part of their enrichment curriculum the sixth formers sorted the food items, then took on the responsibility of making up the hampers, after a lesson from a member of staff from the Connect Network team on how to pack the hamper.
A total of 40 hampers were made, each containing a range of basic foodstuffs, plus a number of treats for Christmas.
Mrs Kilminster, who is coordinating the project, said: “I was overwhelmed by the response to this appeal from the students, staff and parents. I hear so many sad stories on local radio these days of people having to rely upon food banks and I wanted to do something to help these people.
“The sixth form students were great in helping to organise the packing of the hampers and it was quite emotional when we handed the hampers over to Connect Network, plus the boxes upon boxes of food donations for the food banks. I can only say a massive thank you to all who supported this appeal.”