SCHOOLS, stores and churches across Thurrock have been thanked for supporting Thurrock Foodbank which distributes help to families through ten outlets across the borough.

The Corringham-based charity's co-ordinator Sandra Sawle has detailed just some of the many schools and churches that have donated produce gathered together at harvest festivals across the region.

Among the schools that have gifted goods to the charity are Shaw Primary Academy, Kenningtons Primary Academy, Corringham Ortu Primary, Little Thurrock Primary, St Mary's Catholic Primary School and nursery, Chadwell St Mary day nursery and Bulphan Primary.

And churches have been delivering too.

Gifts from Stifford St Mary's.

Donations have been received from church communities including Grays Methodist Church, Socketts Heath Baptist Church, The United Benefice of Orsett, Bulphan and Horndon-on-the-Hill churches, South Ockendon Methodist Church, St Michael's Fobbing, St Johns Church in Grays, Parish of Stifford St Mary's and St Cedd's, Linford Methodist Church, Grays Baptist Church, St Nicholas Church in South Ockendon, Corringham Evangelical Church which donated food and £500, and Stanford-le-Hope's St Margaret's Church.

Sandra says: "The kindness and generosity of these churches and schools and all the people, pupils and families involved is humbling. During these difficult times, acts of such kindness are greatly appreciated."

And the support of stores across Thurrock – large and small – is also acknowledged by Sandra in her thanks to the borough community.

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Lidle at Lakeside has passed on more than 2,000Kg of food donated by staff and customers to date this year, Morrisons customers and staff at Grays have produced 2,716Kg and 3,000Kg has come from Morrisons' Corringham store, Tesco Lakeside 10,115Kg, Asda Tilbury 4,783Kg, Sainsbury's at Chafford Hundred 6,617Kg and Co-op stores and its Thurrock distribution hub have also weighed in with substantial donations.

And smaller stores also play their part. The One Stop Store in Chadwell St Mary, for example, hosts a permanent collection point and recently gifted 51Kg of goods.

The NHS Retirement Club.

Local organisations also regularly contribute, for example Sandra has thanked the NHS Retirement Club for their amazing generosity, donating 56.8kg of food and toiletries.

"On behalf of our clients and families who benefit we just want to say thank-you for your kindness," concluded Sandra.