STUDENTS have been boxing clever to bring festive cheer to under-privileged children in Eastern Europe.
Sixth formers at The King’s Academy, in Coulby Newham, have collected and sorted donations from staff and students for shoeboxes to be sent full of gifts and treats.
It is the 15th year the academy has been involved in the mass effort by Operation Christmas Child for the charity Samaritan’s Purse, which last year distributed scores of boxes from The King’s among orphans in Belarus.
For many of the children, it is the only gift they receive at Christmas so the sixth formers ensured every one was packed with goodies, ranging from pens and paper, to sweets and toys, as well as practical items such as toiletries, toothbrushes and toothpaste, knitted hats, gloves and socks.
Carey Brownless, an assistant vice principal at The King’s Academy, said: “This is the 15th year we have supported the charity and once again there has been a fantastic response from students and their families. Our sixth formers have also done a fabulous job sorting through the donations and packing the boxes.”
Student Poppy Rodway, 16, said: “Some people donated money and we used all the cash to buy extra age-appropriate items. We then made sure every box was absolutely stuffed with goodies.”
Amelia Cox, 17, added: “It makes us all appreciate just how lucky we are in this country and this school and we were all really pleased to do something to help children who are so much less fortunate than ourselves.”
Volunteer Peter Watson said: “The children we try and help really have so very little and the support of everyone at The King’s Academy, year in year out, is greatly appreciated and really does make a huge difference.
“It’s a tremendous effort and I think it is good for the students to learn to give and appreciate that there are so many children not as fortunate as them.”