15 Jun 2023
On 6 June our Flare students from CLIP Learning Centre, The Bridge, held a stall in Gainsborough Market Place raising money for The Salvation Army and a local animal shelter. They also chose to collect food donations for the local Food Bank. The students were asking for a small donation for teas, coffees and cakes Both of the chosen charities are close to the hearts of the Flare students with one saying, “The past year has been hard on the foodbank, and they are slowly running out of donations.”
As part of their Social Action Project, they are tasked with engaging with the local community giving back to them, and raising awareness of those who are vulnerable and in need.
The planning of the event has been an accumulation of weekly meetings and planning, working together to research who they want to help and how to target them. The students wrote a letter to The Salvation Army Food Bank, to see what foods they needed for families, to ensure their project met the needs of the charities. The project was also hugely supported by YMCA Lincolnshire, and they have worked with the students each week designing and developing the project as well as applying for funding so the event could take place.
All eight of the Flare students were truly dedicated to the project. Designing all promotional posters themselves and thinking outside the box to provide and pay for raffle and tombola prizes. They organised games such as guess the name of the Teddy, and selling cakes, tea, and coffee.An employee from YMCA who has been working with the students said, “I am really proud of all the young people, they have been working really hard to raise money for the charities, both during the stall and the buildup to the event.”
Overall, the students raised £35.00 and two large boxes of food.
The Salvation Army food bank is still asking for donations and food are still urgently needed such like –
Pasta
Pasta Sauces
Tinned meats and Tuna
Soup
Tinned fruit
UHT milk
If you are struggling financially and need the support of a foodbank, the opening times are Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10-1pm at The Salvation Army Beaumont Street, Gainsborough.
You can also donate to the food bank the locations are:
- The Salvation Army – Beaumont Street
- 32A Queensway, Gainsborough
Alternatively, you can look out for the foodbank baskets in local stores.