SHERFIELD School has helped send Christmas cheer to Eastern European children in the form of gift-filled shoeboxes.

The 2016 appeal has seen the Hook school donate 210 boxes containin gitems such as toys, toiletries, stationery and warm clothing to disadvantaged children.

The boxed goodies will be received by children aged between one and 15 in Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Romania, where for many of the children, the gifts will be the only ones they receive this Christmas.

The shoebox scheme is run through Rotary, which last year helped towards over 2000 shoeboxes being collected across Hampshire.

The shoebox appeal is an annual event at the school, with Sherfield head boy Thomas Jenkins saying: “The Shoebox Appeal is as best a herald of Christmas that you can get.

“The scheme plays such an important role in bringing happiness to those less fortunate at what can be a lonely time of year.

“The work that the Rotary has done to bring the care and generosity of those with more to those with less is a testament to the human spirit.

“I am sure that the Sherfield community would join me in saying a huge thank you for the work they have done, and I hope that we can continue to support such a noble group in the future.”

Tiphaine Monsauret, who helped organise the school’s collection, was thrilled with this year’s tally of donated boxes.

“Year after year, children, parents, and staff go out of their way to put together a shoebox containing gifts.

“Having been through all the boxes with the prefects and other volunteers to check their contents, it is obvious that people take care to choose items which match the age of the child on the receiving end.

“We are very grateful for the time, effort and money families put into this scheme and I am sure the children receiving them are as well.”

For more information about the Rotary Shoebox Scheme visit www.rotaryshoebox.org.