Food bank benefits from harvest
BOTTLES of squash and packets of biscuits were among the food items collected by school children to support the Guernsey Welfare Service’s food bank.
About seven boxes of goods were donated by pupils from Elizabeth College Junior School.
Class teacher Liz Parkes said they had held the collection as part of their harvest festival.
‘This is the third year we have done it and the children were asked to bring in goods for the harvest service,’ she said.
‘We’ve been very lucky and had lots of donations.’
The pupils brought in items the service needed most, such as pasta sauces, jam, biscuits and squash.
Head girl Aurelia McGreevy, head boy Henry Kennedy and school council chairman Albert Wheadon, all aged 10, helped take the boxes to the GWS.
Aurelia had brought in some squash.
‘It’s important to help other people,’ she said. ‘I’m surprised by how much was brought in.’
Albert agreed that it was an important thing to do.
‘It makes us feel good to help other people, then they will help other people,’ he said.
GVS volunteer Sue Le Friec said the donations were very important.
‘This means a lot to us, especially as they asked what we wanted,’ she said.
‘It’s really lovely that they responded to our requests and they have filled up the gaps on our shelves.’
The service helps support between 25 and 30 households – around 100 to 150 individuals – a week. That can include pensioners, low income households and struggling families.
‘They really value the help,’ Mrs Le Friec said. ‘The people who receive the goods often ask where they have come from. It is really valued and appreciated.’
Christmas is a very busy time for the GWS, where demand will spike at about 85 to 90 households a week during December.
Mrs Le Friec said that meant they needed more help at that time of year.
. Anyone wanting to help can put food in the boxes at Waitrose or the two Co-op Grand Marche stores.
. For more details on how to donate and what they need visit guernseywelfare.com/food-bank.
