YOUNGSTERS from Staindrop made a contribution to the community by visiting a village foodbank.
Year five and six pupils from Staindrop Primary School delivered dozens of boxes and bags full of kitchen cupboard essentials to the foodbank at The Well, in West Auckland.
Emily Shepherd, Joe Trenholme, Jake Spence and Jennifer Turnbull made the trip as part of the work they have been doing towards gaining their Young Leaders Award from the Archbishop of York Youth Trust.
Emily said: “Each week we have been set a task to do a good deed. We have been doing things like going on dog walks and taking bins out for neighbours.
“Today we have learned about how the foodbank works and how many people come in.
“We are really lucky to have food and electricity at home but some people don’t have it. It is nice to help them.”
Joe said: “It is nice to know that we can help people.”
The donations were collected in school from staff and parents as part of a Harvest Festival Appeal.
Headteacher Steve Whelerton said: “We have been overwhelmed with the generosity of the children and parents.
“This is the first time we have donated to a foodbank. Coming somewhere like this gives the children a real-life experience. They are not just donating and not seeing where it reaches. They have been able to see the foodbank in action which is beneficial to them.”
The Well is run by West Auckland Vineyard Church.
Trustee and vice chairwoman of the Vineyard Church Hazel Charlton helps to run the foodbank, which opened in 2011.
She said: “It was lovely for the children to come today with their donations.
“There is a need for it here. I would say we get about 50 people using it each week.”
So far this year, the foodbank has collected 2,366kg of food and provided 2,958 meals to families in the area.
Those in need must be referred to the service on East Green by social services or a doctor. They will then be given access to free food as well as household cleaning products, shampoo, shower gel and toilet rolls. The Well is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am too 3pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
