Beccles and District Lions Club Members at the Beccles Primary Academy Shop – From Left to Right Academy Head Teacher, Heather Thorne; Club President Lion Chris Eglington; Immediate Past President Lion Chris Lambert: Welfare Officer Lion Sandy Barr.
Despite the Covid-19 Pandemic Beccles and District Lions Club has been able to help the Beccles Primary Academy by donating £250 so they could restock their ‘Shop.’
This unique shop has been operating for the past 12 months redistributing food, household, clothing and stationery items that had been donated to the School.
Over 30 local families have benefited from this valuable local Community Service.
However since the Covid-19 Pandemic the donations to the school shop have dwindled and with the school having been closed due to the lockdown, stocks eventually ran out causing the loss of this vital Service.
Beccles and District Lions Club President, Lion Chris Eglington said “The club became aware of the Academy’s unique shop following a very informative visit to the school after donating some of the Toys the public had so kindly given us following our Christmas Toy Appeal.”
“The shop began through the Chair of Governors, Tracey Driscoll and the Head Teacher of Beccles Primary Academy, Heather Thorne seeing a need to offer help to local families who attend the school. From this very simple idea people started telling others and simply by word of mouth it has grown into such a major part of the local community. Therefore when we heard that the stocks were running out, we were only too happy to help.”
Lion Sandy Barr, the Club’s Welfare Officer, added “Once we were informed that the shop needed restocking urgently with the food and hygiene supplies having run out, we asked exactly what was needed and then the Club agreed to help.”
I contacted Sheryl Rumble, Morrisons Supermarket Community Champion, and arranged a £250 Morrisons Gift Card which was presented to the Academy enabling them to restock the shop and to get the Community Aid restarted.
Thus, even during the current lockdown situation Beccles and District Lions Club is still eager to help and serve within the local Community wherever we can.”