Wellington Pantry Project
A LOCAL ‘pantry’ recently opened in Wellington town to distribute food to families in need. In general, they use ‘Best Before’ food donated by supermarkets, but Wellington School was determined to contribute a special Christmas delivery to provide local families in need with some joy over the festive period. Paula Appleby from the Wellington Pantry Project came to speak with pupils in assembly about how the final hampers will be donated to families across the Wellington area. The hope was, that by joining together, we could produce something special.
Wellington School set up the “Great Wellington Christmas Hamper Challenge”. This was a whole school initiative, run as an interhouse competition. Pupils planned their Christmas Hampers together, and contributions were invited to their respective Christmas Hamper.
In addition, our school caterers Thomas Franks created thousands of meals in the kitchens and donated a Christmas meal for four to go with every hamper.
Background
Our Charity committee heard of the initiative and involved the whole community.
Our Prep and Senior Students, staff and our school Charity Captains delivered the hampers to the Wellinton Pantry
Resources
Artistic and creative pupils were asked to design their group's hamper, which were created and donated by every year group and tutor group in the School, from Reception upwards.
Families donated massive quantities of food, presents, essentials and luxury items and the hampers were assembled and brought to Chapel.
The hampers were judged by the Headmaster and then Senior and Prep students were delighted to deliver a massive consignment of luxury Christmas hampers to The Wellington Pantry Project.
Impact
Testimonials
“I am writing on behalf of the members of the Wellington Pantry based at the Well Christian Fellowship Centre, Rockwell Green. We want to thank Wellington School for exceptional gifts before Christmas.
The pantry supports over 100 local people, weekly, using food provided by Fareshare, The fresh and chilled food is near its best before date and we not only benefit from nutritious food, we help food being wasted and put into landfill.
Wellington School generously provided the members with 2 gifts just before Christmas. Pupils by class provided us with beautiful food hampers which were well received by all the members. In addition the kitchen staff provided us with frozen Christmas dinners which were very tasty and healthy. We appreciate this generosity and thank staff and pupils from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you.
David Harvey – Wellington Pantry
· ‘Say to the school, the people that prepared the hamper, how grateful we are...’
· About the box decorated as a gingerbread house, which was much enjoyed by the children in one family: ‘Just wanted to say thank you...the hamper was absolutely adorable; the fact that the kids took time to decorate it was so lovely.’
· ‘It’s the small things that we can take for granted...soap, snacks... .Thank you so much.’
· ‘There was even a hat and gloves in my size, and I don’t have a hat and gloves so it made my absolute day.’
Pupil Involvement
All school from Nursery to Sixth Form
Frequency
A one-off initiative
