Helping hand with uniform cost
Families were given a helping hand to kit children out with school uniform.
Sunderland housing firm, Gentoo, has been helping families in need in the city.
The increasing costs of sending children back to school can place a financial strain on many families.
On average it costs parents £189.29 per child on back-to-school costs, with 34% of that spent on school uniforms, according to the annual Back to School survey.
Gentoo’s annual summer campaign ‘Helping Hands’ aimed to alleviate the added cost of buying new school uniforms, by encouraging employees and the community to donate school uniforms and food items to be distributed to families most in need across the city.
Working in partnership with Barclays and the Salvation Army, Gentoo collected more than 1,200 items of school uniform, which were passed on to Friends of the Drop-In and Washington Clothing Meet, where families were invited to go along and collect the school uniforms they needed for their children.
Michelle Meldrum, Executive Director of Operations at Gentoo, said: “Our Helping Hands campaign is a great opportunity for us to make a difference to our local community. It’s encouraging to see so many people come together and support less fortunate families across the city.
“As a housing association, we witness first hand the financial struggles many families face, and our Helping Hands Campaign is one way we can help. We’re overwhelmed by the generosity of our staff, partners and the local community.
“A huge thank you to everyone who donated and to Barclays and the Salvation Army for supporting us to lend a helping hand to those most in need. We hope that this initiative will inspire others and make a difference.”
Kim Anderson, cofounder of Washington Community Clothing Meet, said: “We were overwhelmed with the amount of school uniforms that were donated.
“The Helping Hands collection organised by Gentoo makes a massive difference to people’s lives by providing a place for people to come if they’re struggling. It’s great to work in partnership with Gentoo to make a positive difference to the local community.”
Gentoo also received more than 700 items of food and volunteers delivered the supplies to Sunderland Foodbank, Washington Community Food Project, Space4, New Dawn, Bede Tower and FODI.
“We hope this initiative will inspire others”
MICHELLE MELDRUM