Wakefield schools band together to create donation hampers to make Christmas merry again

Local schools have been working with Wrenthorpe and Kirkhamgate Assist to combat loneliness and give extra support to those individuals and families who are struggling at the moment in the form of a hamper.
Kirkhamgate Outwood Academy have been collecting hamper items and have written cards tooKirkhamgate Outwood Academy have been collecting hamper items and have written cards too
Kirkhamgate Outwood Academy have been collecting hamper items and have written cards too

Wrenthorpe and Kirkhamgate Assist are a local group that came together at the beginning of lockdown in March to assist elderly and vulnerable during the current conditions, led by Coun Nic Stansby.

Coun Stansby said: “I set up Wrenthorpe and Kirkhamgate assist in March and over that time, our volunteers have been shopping, sending food parcels and being telephone buddies for the lonely - in that time we’ve done about 2000 jobs.

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“The restrictions are really starting to hit home, people have been in their houses for nine months and they’ve not seen people for human interaction.

Santa and his elves will be delivering donations in the week commencing Monday December 2Santa and his elves will be delivering donations in the week commencing Monday December 2
Santa and his elves will be delivering donations in the week commencing Monday December 2

“I just thought we needed to reach out to people and give them a helping hand to spread some Christmas magic.

“Usually we do Christmas dinner at Outwood institute for the lonely and families who struggle financially around Christmas time, but we can’t do that this year.

“So the schools got on board to help us this year.”

Wrenthorpe Academy have been collecting hampers, writing cards, designing calendars and creating a dvd with children singing carols on it to go to over 70s who are on their own.

Generous donations from Morrisons supermarketGenerous donations from Morrisons supermarket
Generous donations from Morrisons supermarket
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Kirkhamgate Outwood Academy have been collecting hamper items and have written cards too.

Ledger Lane School have nominated over 70s on their own in Outwood, have written cards and are collecting for the hampers tomorrow.

The hampers for the over 70s are being delivered on Sunday, for some it will be a rare moment of human interaction for the last nine months.

Some of the children will be delivering them, along with volunteers dressed as Santa and his elves.

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Jerry Clay Academy is collecting for our family hampers, which will be delivered by Santa and his elves in the week commencing Monday December 21.

Coun Stansby said: “I’m so pleased that the schools really got on board, they’ve been so generous and enthusiastic.

“The children came up with some amazing ideas for the hampers, like cards, calendars, dvds of them singing carols so people who live on their own can play them on Christmas day.

“It’s more important than ever to come together this year, everyone in the community has really pulled together to help each other out.

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“People have been so kind and generous with their time and donations and the schools are amazing.

“I’d like to praise Morrisons supermarket, they’ve helped us out so much and also the teachers at the schools for their extra work this year - they’ve had to teach in class and online, and to be doing this in addition is incredible.”

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