Pupils gift friendship to people facing hardship over the festive season
The pupils and staff at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry have been sharing the gift of kindness as part of their Festive Winter Gift Programme.
The school’s annual winter giving programme was launched this month to help provide gifts and offer companionship to people facing difficult times during the long winter months. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, pupils were unable to take part in many of their usual activities, but the school still found ways to make a difference.
In a bid to offer comfort and joy to people facing hardship or loneliness, pupils collected food treats, toiletries and toys to create a selection of beautifully decorated hampers. The hampers were delivered to two local care homes – The Willows and Allenby House – and also to the Children’s Ward at University Hospital, Coventry. Residents and patients were said to be overjoyed with the gifts that had helped them to feel remembered during the festive season.
COVID-19 restrictions meant that pupils were unable to personally visit care home residents. But this did not stop pupils from extending their offers of friendship and kindness. Pupils harnessed the power of technology to make special video recordings where they read Roald Dahl classics, which were played each week to residents in the home.
The school also joined with other Star Academies schools for a ‘Food for All Week’. From 7th to 13th December, all 29 schools across the Star Academies multi-academy trust aim to distribute 50,000 food parcels and meals to those experiencing food poverty.
Anand Patel, Principal at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry, said that the Festive Winter Gift Programme had empowered pupils to make a difference during what had been a tough year for many.
He said: “This year, families across the country have faced unimaginable hardship and I’m sure that loneliness has touched the lives of us all in some way.
“It was no surprise then, that our pupils seized the opportunity of our Festive Winter Gift Programme to reach out to others and find ways to bring the gift of companionship to those who were in need.
“We are incredibly proud of the difference our pupils, parents and staff make to others and this has been an exceptional year for charitable efforts across the school.
“We will continue to find ways to support those who are struggling in our community and look forward to helping even more people as our winter programme continues.”
Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 15th Dec 2020 | Posted In: Latest News