Caring school staff and pupils support Sunderland festive food appeal

Woodlea Primary School staff and pupils with their Christmas foodbank gifts.

Staff at Woodlea Primary School, in Gill Crescent South, Fence Houses, near Houghton, usually receive Christmas presents from the grateful families of pupils.

But this year they asked for any gifts to instead be directed towards the school’s appeal to help the mobile Feeding Families charity.

Staff also brought in their own donations with pupils on the school council co-ordinating the collection.

Amazon helps out with delivery of the Woodlea Primary School Christmas foodbank gifts.

Workers at Amazon’s Washington delivery centre then helped transport the 10 hampers of food to Feeding Families’ nearby pop-up centre.

Organiser Claire White, who is a teaching assistant at the school, said: “The response from the parents was phenomenal. We were blown away.

“Staff topped it all up as well with some of them bringing in carrier bags full of food.”

The hampers included mince pies, Christmas puddings and selection boxes as well as everyday tinned food.

Woodlea Primary School Christmas foodbank gifts with brother and sister Beau, and Thomas Gritton.

Mrs White added: “It came from a conversation in the staff room and now we are on about making it a regular event every year.”

Juliet Sanders, the chief executive of Feeding Families, said: “What they have done is absolutely fantastic.

“It is absolutely amazing how the staff, pupils and parents at the school have got behind the appeal.”

Amazon’s Washington delivery station manager, Sal Circo, added: “On behalf of Amazon’s Washington delivery station team, I would like to say thank you to Woodlea Primary School for including us in the Feeding Families project.

“It has been great working with them on such a wonderful initiative and we are very pleased to offer our support.”

Woodlea’s contribution was part of around 300 Christmas hampers distributed by Feeding Families across Washington.

In total, it handed out around 3,000 hampers throughout Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Cleveland,

While the charity’s festive appeal is now closed, it still requires support throughout the year and further information can be found via its www.feedingfamilies.org.uk website or by its Feeding Families Facebook page.