The Brick has commenced its annual Christmas Hamper Donation campaign with the launch of a food monster competition involving nine primary schools across the borough.
The primary schools designed and created festive food monsters for a range of Wigan businesses, where food and gifts will be collected to go into the Christmas Hampers.
Each year The Brick provides around 150 festive hampers for vulnerable families. The hampers contain Christmas gifts, a traditional Christmas meal and festive food to cover the holiday period.
The food monsters started out as green wheelie bins and with an abundance of Christmas creativity, the children have all transformed the boring bins into fabulous festive food monsters to gain attention from passers-by, to collect as much food and gifts as possible.
The Brick will be displaying the nine food monsters on our Facebook page from November 26th to December 7th where people will be voting for their favourite. The winning food monster will be revealed on the 11th December and the class who designed it is set to win some great prizes!
Alice Coren, Reuse and Recycle Coordinator from the Brick said: “Christmas is an extremely difficult time for vulnerable families as everyone wants to provide the best for their family. During school holidays this can be especially hard, as children aren’t accessing free school meals.
“We wanted to involve local school children in our Food Monster competition to raise awareness for this issue at Christmas and to encourage people from the community to get behind the campaign and to donate food, gifts or even their time. We are grateful for any and all donations.”
Saint Aiden’s Assistant Headteacher, Amy Barlow, said: “At Christmastime, it seems more important than ever to support those in our community who are less fortunate than ourselves. The chance to support The Brick and display our creative skills was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed!”
Daniel, a pupil from Hope School said, of their Food Monster: “We hope lots of people put food in it!”
Winstanley County Primary Deputy Headteacher, Claire Gladman said: “All the children in school have enjoyed watching our Grinch Food Monster being created.
“Our aim is that we can give the Grinch a taste of his own medicine this year with the message: ‘Don’t let the Grinch steal Christmas, fill him up and bring some Christmas joy to others instead!’”
Assistant Headteacher at Orrell Lamberhead Green Academy, Katherine Gaskell, said: “The children in Foundation Stage loved creating the monster and it promoted lots of conversations.”
Children from Saint Catharine’s C.E Primary School said: “I’ve loved the opportunity to express my creativity, as well as being able to help families in Wigan.”(Y6 pupil)
“It was so much fun to make the food monster, and it’s been good to help other people at Christmas time.” (Y5 pupil)
Year 5 Teacher at Saint Catharine’s C.E Primary School Year 5 Teacher, Ashley Coldron, said: “Christmas is a special time for everyone, and the children of St. Catharine’s have thoroughly enjoyed being part of a project which allows families in their community to experience the magic of Christmas, like they do.
“As a school, our children love to put others before themselves; we truly value the meaning of Christmas.”
To see all the food monsters and to vote for your favourite visit The Brick Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheBrickWigan/
If you would like to donate food, toys or gifts, to Christmas Hamper Donation appeal, The Brick will be at Wigan Athletic’s Skills Hub on Montrose Avenue from Monday the 17th to Friday the 21st of December.
If you want to gift some time instead, please contact Fiona, The Brick’s volunteer coordinator at fiona@thebrick.org
