Community praise for St Joseph’s free meal scheme

A SCHOOL in Coalisland has been lauded for an initiative that guarantees all students will be served a hot dinner and a drink, free of charge, during the month of December.

As many families across south Tyrone struggle to make ends meet in the run up to Christmas, St Joseph’s College has stepped forward with this practical and significant offer of help.

It has also emerged that in a spirit of altruism, local people have arrived at the school, many of them former students, with donations towards the initiative ‘Dinner for All – A Gift from St Joseph’s’.

The meals include the Christmas Dinner Day which takes place tomorrow (Wednesday).

Principal Desi McNeil said the response from the public “sums up the spirit of Coalisland”.

He explained, “The young people are not going to learn if they aren’t properly fed.

“They need all their basic needs fulfilled including food and heat and comfort.

“We noticed not all the children were getting meals because parents of some of those who aren’t entitled to free meals do struggle financially”.

Children were missing out. It is not the parents’ fault. It has been a tough two years for people. We want the pupils to feel secure and safe otherwise they won’t learn.”

Mr McNeil explained that it was noticed there was money left over in the budget that was not used for oil because of the college being shut during lockdown.

“We decided that money could make a difference and worked with Celia McKinstry and the canteen staff. They have never been busier, with more kids going for meals which is great. The canteen staff have been fantastic,” he continued.

“Since the scheme went on our Facebook page, the response has been brilliant. Donations have come in with people saying they want to ‘pay forward’ what they have received during the last two years. That to me, sums up the spirit of Coalisland. We have a saying ‘Once a Joe, always a Joe’. Past pupils arrived and tell us they still a have a sense of belonging and have a pride in the college and wanted to make a contribution.

Mr McNeil also praised parents and guardians for doing a “brilliant job” when the college had to revert to ‘remote learning’.

He said, “Parents were fantastic in extraordinary circumstances. Parents are telling us that in the run-up to Christmas the school meals are saving them a few hundred pounds. It is a great help as Christmas is a special time for families. We want to thank the parents for all they have done in the last few years. We want the children to learn as much as they can and that means they need to have all their basics meet in heat, food and security.

“However, while exams are important, school is more than exams. It is more important young people feel safe and secure and become contributing members of society.”