EVERY family with a child at Evenwood Primary School has been given a special hamper to help them cope with current cost of living challenges.
Some 60 families, regardless of their personal situation, received the packages which included everyday essential food items and a few seasonal treats.
The school’s parent support advisor Rachel Stevens said the idea followed a similar scheme which was launched in 2020 when many people were left out of work or had reduced incomes because of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
She said: “What we have got now is a cost of living crisis. Everything has gone up – petrol, gas and electricity has gone up. There is a package for every family so there is no stigma. This is for families to use in whatever way they want.
“Each hamper has 30 items of food from cereal, tea bags and coffee to sausage, cheese, eggs and pork pie.”
The food was bought through Morrisons supermarket, in Barnard Castle, with cash from the Greggs Foundation. Packages of tea bags and coffee were donated by local company CA Group and fresh fruit and veg was given by the Auckland Project.
In addition, Evenwood and Ramshaw Community association sponsored biscuits for each hamper.
A group of volunteers gathered in the school hall before distribution day to put the hampers together.
Ms Stevens said: “We set up the hall like a supermarket and we have a production line going.
“After the school closed, staff on their first day off came in to help.”
Ms Stevens also thanked TCR Hub, in Barnard Castle, for the use of their mini-bus to transport the groceries from Morrisons to the school.
