Our giving tree is back and set up opposite the main entrance.

This year we are collecting donations of non-perishable food items for families who might be going without this Christmas.

At the end of the school year (Friday 9th December) all donated food items will be given to the Christchurch City Mission.

Sadly, it is food that gets the lowest priority when families have serious money troubles. Rent, power, school costs, and health costs all come first.

Families and individuals struggling to feed themselves can contact the City Mission who may interview them about their circumstances and then help with emergency food.

The Missions current wishlist, which some of our school community may be able to help with, is for:

• Breakfast cereals

• Tinned vegetables

• Tinned tomatoes

• Rice

• Pasta

• Tinned tuna

• Spaghetti and baked beans

• Infant formula

• Sweet biscuits

• Crackers or other snacks

Food poverty can strike everywhere

All kinds of families from all parts of Christchurch come to the City Mission for food to help them through tough patches. As a school community it would great if we could get behind the school values of Manaakitanga and Aroha at this time of year and do our bit to help others.