Pupils from a Powys primary school are helping to tackle food poverty “on their doorstep”, by donating food to a Machynlleth foodbank.

Ysgol Llanbrynmair pupils decided to donate food to Bro Dyfi Food Bank, based in Machynlleth, after they found out they would be unable to hold their annual Harvest Festival due to Covid-19.

The students donated three boxes of food, including tinned fruit, soup, meat, custard, and beans, as well as rice, pasta spaghetti, biscuits and chocolate.

Assistant headteacher Sian Richards said: “Because of Covid-19 restrictions, we weren’t able to do the normal Harvest Festival with the school, as we couldn’t invite parents like we usually do.

“When we do the Harvest Festival, there is a collection for a charity.

“So pupils decided, after we discussed it as a class, it would be good to do a food collection for Bro Dyfi Food Bank.

“We then asked their families if they would like to donate. We contacted the Bro Dyfi Food Bank and they told us what they were in need of. We sent a letter home with a list of items they had requested. The families then brought them in.

“We are only a small school, with 56 pupils and 39 families. So we told them ‘give what you can afford’.

“The pupils were happy to help. They understand that there are families out there that aren’t as lucky at them, that don’t have three meals a day. They had that understanding of why we were doing it and where the food was going.

“Especially as it was local. Usually when we do things for charity, it’s international. It’s important for the pupils to know it was on their doorstep.”

Sian said Ysgol Llanbrynmair had held various charity events this term: “We’ve done quite a bit this term. For Macmillan, the school council organised a coffee morning as such. They invited parents, they decorated cakes and the children could buy them.

“They also did Hello Yellow Day for Young Minds charity as well as Children in Need last week.”

Clive Thomas, of Bro Dyfi Food Bank, said: “The donation is gratefully received, especially with Christmas looming. That coupled with the fact that Covid-19 is still lurking in our community makes it doubly important.

“I think schools like Ysgol Llanbrynmair play an important part in our society, making young children aware of social issues and the need to help others less fortunate.”

Clive added the foodbank would be “going the extra mile” this Christmas as they believe demand will increase: “Our role over the winter period won’t change really, it might mean delivering more parcels as we envisage an increase in demand, and maybe going the extra mile when it comes to delivering.

“Our aim has always been to reach the more vulnerable people in the community.

“At the present time, demand is fairly steady with no great surge, we wait in anticipation to see how the weather, benefit changes, and so on, affect folks.”