Newbridge Junior School pupils gather food donations for Portsmouth harvest for those in need due to coronavirus

Pupils at Newbridge Junior School in Fratton are among hundreds of schoolchildren supporting Portsmouth’s citywide harvest, With Thankful Hearts.

It was set up to help those who have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak and those who are in need of support going in to the winter months.

Each class has been collecting tinned and canned goods, pasta, rice and other dried foods and there is a box in the school office for members of the public to donate into.

One Year 5 pupil at Newbridge said: ‘Other people aren’t as fortunate as we are. We are really lucky that we can have a snack whenever we want it.

‘We wake up in the morning knowing we will have breakfast, we know that mum will make us a packed lunch and that we will have dinner. Other people aren’t as lucky.’

Canon Bob White, vicar of St Mary’s Church in Fratton, led a virtual collective worship on a Harvest theme at the school last week.

This was to encourage the children to be thankful for what they have and how the items they donate will help people through winter.

He said: ‘It has been good to be able to share with local schools the message of Harvest.

‘Although leading assemblies remotely is a new experience, it is important we encourage our young people to reflect on the things they can so often take for granted and find ways of expressing thanks for them.’

The campaign was launched on September 16 and is supported by churches of all denominations, Portsmouth City Council, Hive Portsmouth, The News and agencies working with vulnerable families.

SEE ALSO: Mental health support service relaunches with new opening hours

Schools, churches and libraries across Portsmouth have become donation points and, after October 4, the items will then be distributed to food banks and other charities who would normally be supported at Harvest festivals.

Surplus items will be stored centrally by the Hive to be given to organisations as need arises.

Donations can be made until October 4 at the following places:

St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral

St Thomas Church of England Cathedral

All Saints, Portsea

Church of the Ascension, North End

Church of the Holy Spirit, Southsea

Church of the Resurrection and St Andrew’s, Farlington

Harbour Church at St Alban’s, Copnor

Harbour Church at St George's, Portsea

Lifehouse, Albert Road

NEBC North End Baptist Church

Portsmouth Family Church

Portsmouth Pathway at St Luke’s

Salvation Army Lake Road – The Haven

St Cuthbert's, Copnor

St Faith's, Landport

St Francis’, Hilsea

St James’, Milton

St Jude's, Southsea

St Luke's, Southsea

St Margaret's, Eastney

St Mark's, North End

St Mary’s, Fratton (open 9am–12noon each day)

St Michael and All Angels, Paulsgrove

St Nicholas’, Copnor

Ss Peter and Paul, Wymering

St Philip’s, Cosham

St Saviour’s, Stamshaw

St Wilfrid’s, Buckland

University Chaplaincy

Libraries (open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm)

Central Library, Guildhall Square

Beddow Library, Milton Park

Cosham Library, Havant Road, Cosham

North End Library, Gladys Avenue, North End

Southsea Library, Palmerston Road precinct

Schools

Arundel Court Primary School, Northam Street, Landport

Manor Infant School, Inverness Road, Fratton

Moorings Way Infant School, Moorings Way, Southsea

Newbridge Junior School,New Road, Fratton

Penhale Infant School, Lincoln Road, Fratton

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.