AN annual community initiative is set to help children and families halfway across the world.

Halstead Rotary Club has once again teamed up St Margaret's School in Gosfield.

Children and families in eastern Europe are to benefit from the actions of kind-hearted pupils at the school who worked together with members of the Halstead Rotary Club. 

Recipients includes those in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.

Fifty shoeboxes containing either toys, toiletries, educational items or household goods are being sent out to people who live in areas of poverty.

For many, it will be the first present that they have ever received, and it lets them know that someone cares. 

The boxes will be distributed to orphanages, hospitals, disabled children and families in need.  

Rotary president David Ainge went along to collect the filled boxes and thanked all the efforts of pupils, parents and staff. 

He said: “Shoeboxes are a great way of helping disadvantaged families who lack the bare essentials and is a great way of showing that the school was thinking of others as we begin the countdown to the festive season”.