Spalding secondary schools overwhelm foodbank volunteers with donations

This year’s Spalding Guardian Christmas Foodbank Appeal is on course for a new record for donations after the amazing efforts of students and staff at several schools.

More than 1,850 items donated by students and staff at Spalding High School were delivered to Agapecare Foodbank Spalding on Tuesday.

The school held its seventh annual Bring A Tin Day in support of the charity on Friday and headmistress Michele Anderson said: "This year the school community came together and donated a staggering 1,857 items of food, ranging from basic essentials to Christmas treats.

"Without fail, the number of food items increases year to year, with this year no exception.

"It is the largest number of items we have ever donated and over the seven years of Bring A Tin Day, our school community has donated 10,221 items to the town’s foodbank.

"We are pleased and proud to continue our support of this worthy charity."

Spalding Grammar School also showed its support for the appeal on Friday when students and staff managed to cover "two long tables" with food donations.

Alison Harrison Wild, the school's director of resources, said: "We heard that Agapecare Foodbank has been inundated with families in need this year and wanted to show support to our neighbours.

"The foodbank volunteers do a fantastic job and so we were absolutely delighted with the amount of food items we received.

"The donations covered two long tables and it was great to hear that Agapecare Foodbank has been able to donate so many hampers to people at this time."

Students and staff from Spalding Academy also made hundreds of pounds worth of donations to the town's foodbank, despite the school having to postpone its annual Christmas hamper appeal.

Executive head teacher Lucy Conley said: "Students and staff across South Lincolnshire Academies Trust (which also includes Bourne Academy and Giles Academy, Boston) brought in food and other essential items, including festive treats, which will be distributed within our communities through local charities.

"As a Trust, we are aware that many in our local communities have, and are, still suffering financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic and our schools have therefore supported our communities.

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"We have done a lot this year and are proud of our achievements to support the local community."