Teesside High School – Charitable Giving at Christmas

Tuesday 30 November 2021 | By Megan Connor

Here are just some of the ways we are supporting local charities in our community this Christmas at Teesside High School.

Mission Christmas

We are delighted to inform you that we are once again coordinating a Christmas present collection for disadvantaged children across the North East this festive season as part of Mission Christmas.

Mission Christmas is a local charity project which aims to support the most disadvantaged people in our community.  There are more than 42,000 children in our region who would not receive any gifts this Christmas if it was not for this fantastic project.  Teesside High School is registered as a local ‘drop-off’ point for the area and we would like to invite you to donate a gift.

The initiative is being pioneered by TFM Radio and is looking for a wide variety of presents to suit children and young people; both boys and girls of all ages from 0-18 years.  Any gifts donated should be unwrapped to help with distribution.

Hebron Foodbank Collection

For the last seven years we have been proud to support a Christmas time foodbank collection for the Stockton area.  We have developed a great partnership with the Hebron Church in Stockton, which runs a foodbank in conjunction with The Trussell Trust each Wednesday and Friday.  Our efforts have always been incredibly well supported and, as such, we would like to do another collection this year.

In assemblies across the school in the coming weeks, pupils will hear how 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK.  Every day, people go hungry for reasons ranging from unemployment to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income.  This situation has only been exacerbated through the pandemic.  The Trussell Trust foodbanks provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing a crisis in the UK.  Foodbanks help prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.  A simple box of food makes a big difference.

All food at the Hebron Church is donated by the public and sorted by volunteers.  Frontline care professionals such as doctors and social workers identify people in crisis and issue a food voucher.  Clients receive three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food in exchange for their food voucher.  Foodbanks also make time to chat and to signpost clients to other helpful services.

A list of the most useful donations can be found at https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-food/

Items such as UHT milk, sugar, pasta, pasta sauces and tinned meat are gratefully received, along with non-food items such as toiletries.

We would be delighted if you feel you are able to buy one extra present or some extra items at the supermarket this festive season. Please bring any donations to Reception or to the Senior School Foyer before Wednesday 8 December.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.