CHILDREN have been filling shoe boxes with gifts to help disadvantaged youngsters in Eastern Europe.
Pupils at Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, donated about 70 wrapped parcels as part of Operation Christmas Child.
They are filled with gifts including toy cars, cuddly toys, skipping ropes, pens, pencils and colouring books. Headteacher Janine Gleeson said the children knew the age and sex of the recipients so they could tailor present ideas.
She said: "They were so proud when they brought their gifts in and wanted to tell us what they had packed.
"It is lovely and very special because our children have all these material things so it is nice they are giving things to people who will not take them for granted.
"The children will be so grateful when they receive these parcels on Christmas morning." They will be sent out with hundreds of packages as part of a collection, which has been organised by Reverend Paul Neville, of St Laurence's Church.
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