malorees supports local businesses with “Shop Local” campaign

 

 

Malorees PSFA has joined forces with Salusbury Primary School and Princess Fredericas parents to support the #shoplocal campaign started by the Kilburn Times, making front page news!

 

 

You can read the news story on the Kilburn Times website here.

 

Every year schools raise thousands of crucial pounds through Christmas raffles organised by their Parent Associations (PTAs), usually relying on the generosity of local businesses to donate gifts.

 

This has led to many businesses donating dozens of gifts to schools - generosity which many of our independent High Street business simply cannot afford to do this year with many struggling just to stay open themselves.

 

Each PTA represents hundreds of parents, carers and friends of each school community – a huge amount of local custom. So the community-minded PTAs have decided to turn the tables around this year to ask their parents to instead buy items from their favourite independent or small local business to support their fundraising activities.

 

Malorees and Salusbury schools have decided to create dozens of fantastic, unique Christmas hampers for their fundraising school winter raffles, while Princess Frederica’s Primary School parent body is asking parents to choose their favourite local stores to support.

 

Dana Horsfall of Malorees Infant & Junior School PSFA explained

 

“It’s been great to receive so many generous donations from our wonderful local businesses over the years, helping our school run school trips, music lessons and buy laptops. We want to make sure we support them back.

 

Our idea is for each of our 15 classes to create Christmas hampers. If each of our parents buy a hamper item or voucher from a local shop we’ll help put thousands of pounds into our local economy, as well as create unique local gifts!”

 

Marie O’Neill of Friends of Salusbury School added “These are difficult economic times for everyone. However, schools still need to fundraise, and what better way than to support our wonderful local businesses at the same time?”.

 

Melissa Jolly of Princess Frederica’s Primary School said: “Our school community loves to support local stores and we want to do everything we can to help one another through these difficult times. It’s great also for the three schools to come together like this to share ideas”.

 

Parents of the three schools are also looking at making more of their annual teacher and staff presents local gifts. Marie O’Neill added “Hundreds of teacher and staff gifts are given every Christmas across Brent and if even if just a few more of these are local gifts and vouchers, instead of from the likes of M&S, John Lewis or Amazon it will mean thousands of extra pounds reaches local small businesses”

 

Rudy Siano of local business Cuore Italian Deli said “A good business supports its community and even stronger one is one that’s supported back. Cuore Deli is proud to offer a wide range of good food and a place for people to meet and we also support local food aid initiatives. We don’t expect anything in return for that; it’s the right thing to do. But it’s really appreciated that Malorees and Salusbury schools are doing this. It’s more important than ever to #shoplocal”.

 

Tracy Brent of Chine Gift Shop and Garden Store on Chamberlayne Rd said “The Lockdowns have been really tough for independents like us. We’ve adapted by moving the shop outside and selling online but we really prefer the personal touch of being on our high street. We strongly believe our independent stores and businesses have at least the same quality as huge stores - and by buying from local stores we can all support local jobs much better. So a big thank you to the Kilburn Times and Malorees, Salusbury and Fredericas”.

 

Sofia Galli of Bread Ahead on Lonsdale Rd said “We’ve only been open a few weeks on Lonsdale Rd but we already feel part of a strong community. With the support of local parents and residents we hope to be here for a long time. Thank you to the Kilburn Times for the #shoplocal campaign and to the three schools for supporting us”.

 

Cat Scourfield of Nooki Gift Store on Chamberlayne Rd said “Nooki has always supported schools and charities with gifts we know mums and children love. It’s great to know the three schools appreciate us back. The Christmas period is so important to us and we’d urge shoppers to buy the great quality and variety you can find locally rather than by from online giants that contribute little or nothing to our local economy or high street”.

 

Food support 

Malorees, Salusbury and Fredericas have also this week teamed up to help boost food donations to local charities this winter.

Food collections are now taking place every Monday morning outside the school gates with donations collected and shared across food organisations in the area such as the ‘Gift Your Neighbour’ food initiative started by local refugee charity Salusbury World.

Thank you to the amazingly generous amount of donations this Monday by Malorees parents and children - over 50 bags were collected! 

Food can be requested via www.bit.ly/Giftmeal.