Harvest Festival is a time for giving thanks for the material blessings we enjoy and expressing that gratitude by helping those less fortunate than ourselves. This year Emanuel will be marking Harvest Festival by donating to Wandsworth Foodbank. If you and your children would like to contribute to our donation there are two ways to do this:
1. Donate money online
You can donate financially to the foodbank on your child’s behalf, by going to https://www.bankuet.co.uk/wandsworth. At the checkout, under section 2, please select our campaign code Harvest – Emanuel School Battersea, which will enable us to know the total the school community as a whole has contributed (the size of your particular donation will remain private). Your cash donations will be used to provide the foodbank with the specific items they need.
2. or bring food donations to school
Non-perishable food items can be brought to school and left at the security gatehouse on Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th and Friday 6th November only. Please only bring food on these days and do not bring fresh food and perishable items as we cannot accept them.
These are the items they request:
- Can openers
- Tinned vegetables
- Tinned fruit
- Tinned fish
- Biscuits
- Ketchup
- Chocolate
- Shower gel
- Packet soup (not tins)
- Noodles
I heartily endorse donating if you are able because I have seen first-hand the difference that food parcels can make to families who are struggling. During the lockdown, along with other Emanuel staff I delivered food packs prepared by our catering team to our partner primary schools. They were for children on the Free School Meals Scheme for whom the inability to go to school meant extra pressure on their already struggling families to provide lunch as well as dinner. I also went door to door in my parish delivering parcels to families on a similar list at our two church schools in Kennington. I know that these families were extremely appreciative of this practical help.
These types of schemes provide a vital support for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Many people face even greater hardship during this pandemic and the number of referrals to foodbanks has more than doubled. Remember that those using the foodbanks are referred there by professional bodies such as the NHS or social services. They are truly in need.
Best wishes,
Father Labran