St Leonard's Primary School supports Food Bank Fortnight

St Leonard’s Church of England Primary School, part of the Vine School Trust, is taking part in the national campaign to raise awareness of food poverty and support food banks through targeted donations.

Pupils collected food for Food Bank Fortnight(Image: St Leonard's Church of England Primary School)

The school is using the BanktheFood app, which sends real-time notifications about items most needed by nearby food banks.

The app helps avoid over-donating common items like pasta and beans, instead directing families to provide essentials such as baby formula, toiletries, or cereal - small items which can make a significant difference.

Pupils collected food for Food Bank Fortnight(Image: St Leonard's Church of England Primary School)

Wendy Woods, headteacher at St Leonard’s, said: "We’re thrilled to be part of Food Bank Fortnight.

"It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn about kindness, empathy, and community action.

"By using the BanktheFood app, we know that our contributions are truly making a difference."

Pupils collected food for Food Bank Fortnight(Image: St Leonard's Church of England Primary School)

During Food Bank Fortnight, which runs from October 1 to 14, the school is holding classroom activities focused on food poverty and hosting daily collection points for donations.

Pupils will also be encouraged to share the app with friends and family to extend the campaign’s reach.

Emma Spring, co-founder of BanktheFood, said: "We are thrilled that St Leonard’s Church of England Primary School is taking part.

Pupils collected food for Food Bank Fortnight(Image: St Leonard's Church of England Primary School)

"By coming together, we can ensure everyone has enough on their table this October and beyond.

"The BanktheFood app will connect you with your nearest food bank and provide a list of what they need most to help the community.

"It will even ping you a reminder as you go to the supermarket."

Pupils collected food for Food Bank Fortnight(Image: St Leonard's Church of England Primary School)

Food Bank Fortnight is a two-week initiative which brings together schools, businesses, and communities across the UK to support food banks.

The campaign highlights the growing demand for food bank services and emphasises the importance of targeted, impactful giving by connecting donors directly with food banks.

Pupils collected food for Food Bank Fortnight(Image: St Leonard's Church of England Primary School)

The BanktheFood app is free to download on the App Store and Google Play.

Users can link to their nearest food bank and receive up-to-date requests for needed items, ensuring every donation counts.

Every contribution, no matter how small, helps support families in need.