As the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to hurt households across Macclesfield, some Fallibroome Academy pupils and staff stepped in to give a helping hand at the foodbank.

Macclesfield Nub News reported last week that Silklife Foodbank has seen an estimated doubling in the level of demand for its services as a result of furloughing and job losses.

Alain Kyd, an assistant principal at the Falibroome Academy, organised for sixth form pupils and staff to come together to help out at the foodbank run by the Silklife Church; where he is also a trustee.

Mr Kyd told Macclesfield Nub News: "When we came into the school closures in March, I emailed all of the sixth form and the staff to see if anyone would like to volunteer at the foodbank because we did anticipate an increase in demand.

"We got a great response. We got about 35 sixth formers and about 10 to 12 members of staff who we've basically got on a rota to go down and sort out all of the bags ahead of the Tuesday collection day."

Mr Kyd described the pupils who volunteered their time as "incredible" as they took on the often repetitive tasks of sorting and packing the food donations.

Chrissie Thompson, the coordinator at the foodbank, was very grateful to have the additional help.

She told Macclesfield Nub News: "They've been tremendous. They brought all of the food we had on the mezzanine floor, which we didn't have room for in the foodbank and now it's all on the one floor which is good for getting it into the foodbank where we pack."

Now that Silklife Church is not meeting due to the lockdown restrictions, the foodbank has been able to use the main hall to allow volunteers to operate safely while sorting the food.

The student volunteers have allowed some of the more regular volunteers to have a rest over the Easter period, when in normal times the foodbank would be able to close altogether, but due to the increased need, it remained open.

Ms Thompson added: "We definitely wouldn't have been able to manage without them, they've been brilliant."

Mr Kyd praised his pupils, saying: "I'm always very impressed with the maturity of our sixth formers in particular and how they respond to things. I think they really do have a concern for the community."

The Silklife Foodbank is still welcoming donations of food and money to help meet the increased demand throughout the area.

Food can be left at a donation box at Sainsbury's or you can leave it with volunteers at the Silklife Centre on George Street on Tuesday's between 9:30am and 11:30am.

If you would prefer to make a donation of money, please email [email protected] to arrange a bank transfer.