Hudson Park Primary pupils once again showed the spirit of giving when they hosted their annual Harvest Day on Friday, handing over donations to a wide range of local charities and organisations.
Throughout the year, each grade adopted a cause and collected items ranging from food and clothing to pet supplies and funds.
On Friday, the contributions were presented during a lively assembly filled with music, poetry and blessings from different faith traditions.
Pupils carried symbols of gratitude to the stage — bread, coal, water, fruit, vegetables, flowers, fish and pet food — representing the many ways communities are nourished.
Grade Rs supported Pet Pals Charity, collecting food and blankets for animals, while grade 1 pupils gathered supplies for Salem Baby Care Centre.
Grade 2s raised more than R2,000 through fun competitions to continue their adoption of Lilly, the white lion at the East London Zoo.
Grade 3 pupils donated food to the Furry Godmother, which cares for stray animals, while grade 4s collected toiletries and cleaning products for Home 2 Home, a centre for the elderly.
Grade 5s raised more than R4,000 in support of Hudson the Hound, the school’s mascot.
Grade 6 pupils raised R3,200 through the Coins for Cats and Canines campaign for Pet Pals, and also prepared 27 Boxes of Love containing groceries for the St Patrick’s Catholic Women’s League, which supports orphanages and retirement homes.
Grade 7 pupils concluded the handovers with food parcels and care packs for Men of Hope and the Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre, thanking both organisations for their community work.
The event also carried environmental and spiritual messages, with pupils reminded to protect the planet through recycling and care for all living creatures.
A highlight was a poem performed by three of Hudson’s “Rebels,” urging classmates to share food, love and kindness.
Teacher Morgan Lands, who first introduced Harvest Day as a grade 4 project in 1993, reflected on how it had grown into a school-wide tradition.
“There is too much suffering in our community — hunger, poverty, animal cruelty, unemployment — so if we can make a small difference, we are making our world a better place,” Lands said.
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.
“Hopefully a legacy of caring and compassion is fostered so this tradition may continue to grow and support those in need.”
It was the first time the East London SPCA benefited from Hudson Park’s Harvest Day.
General manager and trainee inspector Brent Sanders said the organisation had received R9,602 in donations.
“This is a fantastic initiative that the school has put together.
“As an NPO, we don’t receive government funding, so every cent and every item we get comes directly from the public and businesses.
“Every little bit counts, and it helps us tremendously,” Sanders said.
He added that other schools, including Stirling and Kidd’s Beach, had also supported the SPCA in the past.
“We just want to thank the whole of the East London community, and we pray that they keep supporting us and looking after our precious animals that we care for every day.”
Sanders said he hoped Hudson Park’s contribution would mark the beginning of a long-standing partnership with the SPCA.
Daily Dispatch
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