Strathalbyn join Mid West schools pitching in for Foodbank

When Geraldton Foodbank put out an urgent plea for donations, the call was received loud and clear by a handful of Mid West schools.

Strathalbyn Christian College were the most recent to answer the cry for help — joining three other local schools to donate to the charity.

The Strathalbyn Primary School student council delivered 400 cans of food, collected from their One Can, Can Help Campaign, to the Geraldton warehouse.

Students were shown the empty shelves their donation would replenish; food which will go towards providing around 800 meals.

Geraldton Foodbank regional manager Pat Hodges said it was a heartwarming feeling to see so many young students involved in charity.

“Strath have just joined Waggrakine, Nagle and Bluff Point in the list of schools we’ve had donate to us this year, ” she said.

“It’s absolutely fantastic primary school students can understand what food insecurity actually means and furthermore they want to do something to help.

“What they’ve done will go a very long way in feeding so many Mid West families.”

The Strathalbyn campaign was spurred on from an article in The Geraldton Guardian, accompanied by a picture of the empty Box Street warehouse.

Inspired to help, each primary class filled boxes of canned foods over two weeks.

Strathalbyn’s Anna Hollander said after reading the article, students couldn’t ignore their chance to help.

“On Monday, August 10, The Geraldton Guardian had a headline ‘Foodbank in Crisis, worst I’ve seen in 13 years’, ” she said.

“Looking at the picture of the empty warehouse, which accompanied the article, touched our hearts at Strathalbyn Christian College.

“As a community we immediately thought we must help and make a difference in our community, we are never too young to make a difference in someone’s life if we care.”

Foodbank are currently still calling for donations.

For more information phone the warehouse on 9964 8011.