Pictured: Some of the donations at Windsor Park C.E. Middle School
Schools across Uttoxeter Learning Trust have joined together and collected donations to help families affected by the Ukraine crisis.
Pupils have donated dried food, first aid kits, sleeping bags, foil survival blankets, nappies, torches with batteries, and toiletries.
Sarah Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Uttoxeter Learning Trust, said: “The Ukraine conflict has touched so many lives. I would like to thank all of our schools for supporting this cause.”
She added: “I am especially proud of our pupils who have shown the importance of being good citizens and given so generously to those in urgent need.”
Schools that have supported the appeal include Windsor Park C.E. Middle School on Springfield Road, Picknalls First School on Oldfields Road, and Hutchinson Memorial C.E. First School on Uttoxeter Road.
Headteacher Lisa Wilbraham-JonesLisa Wilbraham-Jones, Headteacher, Windsor Park C.E Middle School, said: “The response was amazing. At a time when many families are struggling financially, we were overwhelmed by the generosity shown. Parents, children and friends dug deep and gave from their hearts.”
She added: “Donations were sorted, packaged and transported to a local church last month that was shipping donations to Poland and Ukraine, showing our young people the importance of giving to those in need.”
Anne Tapp, Headteacher of Picknalls First School, said: “In our school community we have families directly affected by the war in Ukraine and they asked if we would be able to help by being a collection point for donations to aid those affected by the crisis.”
She continued: “Due to the urgency of the situation, we gave our pupils and parents and carers 24 hours to bring in donations so that they could be transported the following day. We are very grateful to our school community for their swift and generous response. Our thoughts continue to be with all of those affected by this distressing situation.”
Paula Snee, Headteacher, Hutchinson Memorial C.E. First School, added: “A huge thank you to all of our families who donated so generously. We were inundated with donations.
“We got in touch with a local company, Listers in Stoke on Trent, who offered to be a collection point for donations and had already sent two lorries filled with emergency aid to Poland. They had one more delivery planned and asked for first aid, toiletries, dried food, nappies and baby milk donations.
“All of the items were sorted, bagged and labelled by our Years 3 and 4 children. It was heart-warming to see our children being involved in emergency aid to help those whose lives have been shattered by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.”