Cluny Primary kids' kindness shows true festive spirit
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KIDS at Cluny Primary School in Buckie have been displaying the true spirit of the festive season by supporting a community group.
Youngsters in P4/5, taught by Rhona McCallum, and those in Lisa Addison's P5/6 class, have forgone their Advent chocolate and treats in favour of bringing in a variety of items for Buckie Community Hub's food bank.
The large collection of items, which included the likes of toiletries as well as food, was handed over to Gordon McDonald from the Hub at the school in time to help people in need locally have a better start to they year than they might have otherwise had.
Praising the pupils' efforts, Ms Addison said: "One of the outcomes we work towards is connecting with the local community and we thought it'd be nice to give back for a change and show a bit of Christmas spirit.
"Before we started the collection the kids went along to the Hub and spoke about what they were doing and learned more about the work they do. One of the pupils also wrote a letter formally inviting the Hub along to the school.
"The pupils have been very enthusiastic and even had a box filled at the start of November. In all we handed over two boxes. I'm absolutely delighted at the amount we managed to collect, more than I could've hoped when we began. We also had donations from pupils outside our two classes after what we were doing was mentioned in assembly.
"I think doing this has helped make them realise how lucky they are. Normally we take part in the shoebox appeal, which can be hard-hitting, but I think this will have a longer term effect on them, plus it's tied to something more local.
"It's certainly opened all our eyes about what goes on in the community."
Each class had a list of 25 types of items to collect for the boxes. Pupils' names were selected in a random order with each youngster being allowed to chose what they wanted from the items remaining.
Buckie Community Hub is the brainchild of Buckie Area Forum which is chaired by Mr McDonald.
Welcoming the donation, he said: "We're delighted to receive this donation from Cluny Primary School, it's very timely given the demands of the time of year.
"The reverse Advent calendar idea they came up with is brilliant.
"The non-perishable donations will be kept at the Hub, with the food being passed on to our partners AB56 Futures based at the Lady Cathcart Centre. We will also be distributing some of it to people we have previously worked with and given vouchers to.
"This donation from Cluny will be a big help to a lot of people."
The Hub, which is situated at 17 East Church Street in the town, provides a wide range of services, including advice, signposting and playing host to drop-in sessions provided by partner agencies. It also acts as a warm space for those who are struggling to heat their homes.
Mr McDonald noted that the volunteer team had been kept very busy during the hub's first year, due almost entirely to the hammer blows inflicted by the cost of living crisis and the steady rise in both inflation and interest rates.
Particularly hard hit were those on benefits or low incomes who had already been finding it a struggle to make ends meet before the price of food, fuel and utilities sky-rocketed.
It is open from 10am to 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday and 10am-4pm then 6pm to 8pm on Tuesdays.
To find out more about what is on at the Hub, visit their Facebook page, email Admin@buckie.co, phone (01542) 780624 or visit their Facebook page.
