A 15-year-old girl has collected bags for food to help people struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lucy Tait, a William Howard pupil, asked how she could help Brampton Area Action Group Helpdesk as a volunteer as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award.
With help from her family, Lucy began to organise a house to house leaflet drop in Great Corby, requesting donations of food or anything that would be useful to help people in need.
Two weeks later, Lucy called the helpdesk to say that she had collected a few bags of food to help the foodbank.
A spokesman for the heldesk said: “It was a huge understatement. It was a giant car load, which will help the charity meet many families and individuals needs in Brampton and the surrounding villages over the coming weeks.”
Lucy’s mum Jane helped to deliver the donations to the Brampton Community Centre from which the Brampton Area Action Group S.H.I.N.E food initiative has been operating for the past 13 months.
Jane said: “We are so proud of our Lucy, she was very keen to get started, in order to help make a difference to some people’s lives. It is lovely to hear that Lucy’s efforts are really helping people – she is now planning to leaflet the rest of Great Corby over the Easter.”
David Moorat, chief executive officer of Brampton Area Action Group, said: “This goes to show that when communities come together, they really can make a difference.
“Lucy’s donations have already been put into emergency food parcels to help families who are struggling.
“We need to remember that any one of us could suddenly be put into a position where we need the help of others.
“The pandemic has reinforced that community and collaboration is what makes Cumbria a great place to live.
“Lucy’s volunteering is a shining example of today’s get up and do youth.”
