Volunteers provide free school meals to Moreton families
During the week leading up to half-term, 340 free food hampers and 170 activity packs have been successfully delivered to families in need within the Moreton area. Moira McAdam, a community volunteer at the Sandbrook Community Centre and Kevin Moran, Site Management Officer at Magenta Living’s high-rise Sunningdale block, worked with a local team of volunteers to put together and deliver food packs to each school involved.
The volunteers worked closely with five local schools in Moreton: Orrets Meadow, Hayfield, Overchurch Infants, Overchurch Juniors and Sandbrook Primary to distribute the food hampers and activity packs to each school. The packs were then given out by the teachers to children who would normally receive free school meals during term time.
Two of the schools cater for special needs children and arrangements were made to deliver the food parcels direct to their front door in a Covid secure way. This was a huge undertaking for the volunteers, as it meant delivering to 70 individual households stretching across Wirral.
As part of each hamper each family received cereal, soup, beans, pasta, rice, sauces, tuna, corned beef, biscuits plus much more. They also received fresh produce including mince, chicken, ham, eggs, milk, bread, butter, potatoes and fruit.
In addition to the food hampers, each child received an activity pack containing a chocolate bar, a puzzle toy, a colouring book, pencils, jelly to make, pancake mix and Jif lemon juice to make pancakes on Pancake Tuesday.
Moira commented: “We did something like this at Christmas as well as the family hampers which Magenta Living helped fund. We could not do any of this without Magenta Living giving us the space to use. Kevin Moran is amazing and helps us when he can, nothing is too much trouble for Kev and I can't praise him enough. We also had the help of some amazing volunteers and without them this couldn't happen”.
The Sandbrook Community Centre is one of thirteen community properties owned by Magenta Living and managed by local volunteers. During the pandemic, community centres have played a vital role in supporting local communities.
Magenta Living would like to say a huge congratulations and thank you to Moira, Kevin and all the volunteers for their amazing efforts and for the difference they have undoubtedly made in the Moreton area and beyond supporting local residents and families.