How you can help put a smile on hundreds of kids’ faces as Hebburn Helps launch Easter egg appeal

Just out of its busiest time of the year over Christmas, Hebburn Helps food bank and crisis response centre has launched its next appeal to help families across South Tyneside.

Over the coming weeks they will be asking for people to donate Easter eggs and other chocolate treats to be given out to children in the borough as part of their regular food parcels.

They will also be provided to children attending the Grub Club which is held during the school holidays to provide children with breakfasts and hot lunches when many parents struggle to put that extra meal on the table.

In 2019 the Grub Club provided 849 meals for kids in South Tyneside, in addition to the 4,299 emergency food parcels and free surplus food bags which were given out every week through the food bank from January-December.

And as part of Hebburn Helps’ Christmas appeals more than 5,000 toys were handed out to over 700 children.

Co-founder Angie Comerford estimates that around 400-500 Easter eggs were given out to children last year and has already received 50 donations within a week of the 2020 appeal launching.

“It’s the same old story, just as at Christmas time, there are kids out there who wouldn’t get any chocolate eggs this Easter,” she said.

“It’s just another form of poverty, as with period poverty and school uniform – you could call this chocolate poverty.”

Chocolate treats will also be given out to the homeless in Newcastle city centre, as part of an outreach programme organised by Angie.

She added: “A massive thank you as always for the support we get from people, we couldn’t do it without them.

“We’re just grateful for anything that comes in, as long as people keep donating we’ll keep doing what we do.”

Easter Eggs can be dropped off at Morrisons, Jarrow, Laila Salon in Whiteleas, South Shields or directly at Hebburn Helps on Campbell Park Road, Hebburn.