Merchiston Castle School in Colinton raised £1,500 and 492kg of food donations for the Edinburgh Food Project, a city charity that provides emergency food provision and support for people in need.
Having studied the charity’s ‘most wanted’ list, the schoolboys encouraged their families and friends to donate and drop off at Merchiston’s annual Christmas Fair, and the community responded generously. From tinned soup to cereal, cleaning products to festive treats, families contributed almost half a tonne of much-needed items to go directly to vulnerable people in Edinburgh this winter.
A further £1,500 cash donation was raised through a charity raffle held on the day, stallholder fees and a sizeable contribution from the Sixth Form’s Christmas market sales, when students from the Entrepreneurship BTEC sold Merchiston branded mugs, candles, and ornaments.
In common with most other food related charities, Edinburgh Food Project is witnessing an increased demand for their support this year, with more than 2,000 food parcels expected to be delivered in December alone – a 70% rise compared with the same month in 2022. The donation raised by Merchiston Castle School will go some way in helping to meet this demand and support the seven food banks run by the organisation.
Jonathan Anderson, Headteacher of Merchiston Castle School, said: “We are immensely grateful to our kind-spirited community who donated much-needed items to our charity initiative this year. It has been heart-warming to see the local community come together to support families in need and spread some true Christmas cheer.
“The boys have been incredible in supporting the fundraising activity, hosting the raffle where all donations went directly to the Edinburgh Food Project. We are very proud to see them giving back to the community and thinking of others less fortunate at this time of year.”
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