A Co Tyrone school will provide pupils their lunch for the whole month of December as they seek to help parents and carers in the mouth of Christmas.
St Joseph’s College, Coalisland said all pupils would be offered a hot meal and drink at every lunchtime from December 1 until the end of term, including Christmas dinner day on December 15.
The college said that the lead up to Christmas brings with it increased expense and challenges, and the gesture was a gift to the local community which supports the school.
St Joseph’s principal Desi McNeill said they made the decision as they had noticed some students weren’t having a substantial meal at lunchtime.
Desi added: “We’re always looking to do something that makes life a wee bit easier for everyone, and what we’ve noticed over the last week or so is a lot of the kids are not really getting anything to eat at lunchtime.
“We know that coming up to Christmas, everyone is doing their best and we have had a horrible two years now.
“We have a bit of money saved from the last two years on oil and heating and things like that when we weren’t open, so instead of squandering it on things we thought the most important thing is to look after our kids.
“If we can feed the kids during the day hopefully it will take a wee bit of pressure off at home.”
Desi paid tribute to the parents and carers of the school pupils, who have been generous to the school in the past and added that it was a way to give back to them.
Desi continued: “In the run up to Christmas and the weather just turning, we’re out in the morning and it’s getting colder and wetter.
“We just wanted to make sure that they have got something. To learn you need to have the basics of heating, warmth, security and food in your stomach, so if we can do that over the next couple of weeks then we are hopefully helping.
“Our parents and carers at St Joe’s are the most generous people in the world, they support us any way they can and they support the kids any way they can.
“I’m sure like everybody, there is extra expenses coming up to Christmas and sometimes our kids maybe won’t ask for that extra bit of help.
“We want to be able to show our kids that the school and the teachers and everybody in the college community will rally around.”
