"We've been inundated": Harvest donations pour in from local schools
Food collections provide meals for people facing poverty and homelessness
A Northampton charity supporting people experiencing homelessness, poverty and financial hardship is receiving hundreds of food donations through its annual Harvest Appeal.
The Northampton Hope Centre provides crisis support, meals, showers, clothing and long-term assistance for people facing homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges. Each year, its Harvest Appeal encourages schools and community groups across Northamptonshire to collect food and other essential items to support the charity's work.
This year, around 15 schools and a further 15 community groups are taking part in the appeal, donating everything from tinned food to fresh produce.
Brandon Eldred head of Fundraising Events and Marketing said the initiative has grown significantly since the charity first began working with local schools.
He said: "When Harvest Festival came along, the schools decided to start collecting food for us and put the message out to all the parents," he said.
"Since then we've just literally been inundated by schools donating tinned food, fresh food, anything you can think of really, and it's going really, really well.
The donations help the Hope Centre continue providing free breakfasts and lunches, as well as clothing, showers and a safe place for people to spend time during the day.
"All that will go towards helping them and covering our overheads as well to make sure we can keep it open."
Eldred said the appeal is also helping people using the charity's services feel connected to the wider community.
"There's a lot of great people in Northamptonshire who donate so much money and time and food and products," he said.
"When you go in and talk to them and say this school's done this, this school's done that, or this community is doing this for you, they don't realise how much people actually care about them.
"It really goes a long, long way for what people are doing in this county, so we can't thank people enough."
The Hope Centre served more than 30,000 meals to people in need last year and harvest remains one of the most important times of the year for replenishing food supplies.
With another week of collections remaining before schools break up, Eldred said the charity is expecting hundreds of pounds worth of donations.
He said schools including Brampton Primary School, Simon de Senlis Primary School, Duston Eldean Primary School, Blisworth Community Primary School, Kislingbury Primary School, Harpole Primary School and schools in Nether Heyford have all been involved.
"The young children are so enthusiastic about helping people, which is great," he said.
"A lot of our work now is about prevention. It's trying to educate young people to say, 'Look, this is what could happen if we don't help each other.'
"The message is getting clear and young people are getting really involved in this, which is amazing."
Eldred added that community support remains vital as rising costs continue to affect both charities and households.
"Things are tight for everybody at the moment," he said.
"But people are still digging deep and, without their generosity and helping us, we might not be here."