Telford school steps up to help families with its own food bank
Hundreds of food parcels have been distributed to families with children attending a Telford school after an appeal for assistance cash and goods.
Staff at Telford Priory School, in Wrockwardine Wood, have set up the school's own food bank scheme in response to calls from parents who have been struggling to provide basic necessities for their children due to the effects of the coronavirus crisis.
The school, in New Road, said parents in need of support include those who are self-employed or who work in industries which have been forced to close due to the current lockdown measures and do not qualify for government help.
Telford Priory stated that the effects of Covid-19 was causing untold pressures on many in addition to the challenges of setting up remote learning services at home for pupils.
Following an appeal in the area for donations of food and money, school staff, students and businesses have contributed enough items enabling the school to deliver more than 400 family food parcels since November.
The school community itself responded by donating over £5,000 in cash, which included £3,000 from Ed Lyons SportsVision which was spent on food and other items. Food store Greenfields has supplied fresh fruit and vegetables.s.
Regular donations have also come from Asda off Donnington Wood Way and from Argos in Bentley Bridge, Wolverhampton. Morrison’s in Lawley and Marks & Spencer in Telford.
While TJ Vickers, in Trench, donated new uniforms along with Baker and Sons, in Wellington.
To handle the good community response to the appeal, the school said a large number of staff have been volunteering their time to run The Telford Priory Outreach Committee which aims to fill food parcels every two weeks.
The school's canteen is being used as a temporary food bank for families to collect the parcels or deliveries are made by staff out of school time.
Donations of food or cash can be made to the school centre by calling 01952 386400.
