KIND students and school staff have collected more than 60 boxes of presents to send to some of the poorest children in the world. Gifts including crayons, pencils, toiletries, notebooks and soft toys were collected at Heathcote School in Stevenage and pu

KIND students and school staff have collected more than 60 boxes of presents to send to some of the poorest children in the world.

Gifts including crayons, pencils, toiletries, notebooks and soft toys were collected at Heathcote School in Stevenage and put in 61 shoe boxes to be sent to children in Africa, India and Eastern Europe.

Sixth formers at the school helped organise the project, which is the school's contribution to the national Operation Christmas Child appeal run by the Samaritans.

As well as the packages themselves, the school also raised the £2 per box needed for postage.

Students watched a video of last year's boxes being delivered to grateful children, and sixth form tutor and head of modern languages Rowena Stevens, who coordinated the scheme, thinks this inspired everyone to get involved.

Miss Stevens said: "We've been running it for years and years but this year was a particularly big effort.

"Everyone was touched when they watched the presents being delivered and I think it's an enormous outpouring of love.

"I think they took on board the message that you don't need expensive gifts, that small gifts have made these kids incredibly happy."

For more information on Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samari tanspurse.co.uk