NEARLY one hundred school children took part in a generous donation to the elderly

Ninety-five Walney School students delivered food parcels door-to-door to residents of the island for the fifth consecutive year.

A spokesperson for Walney School said: “This is a wonderful community event which allows pupils to be active citizens in the community, along with being supportive of others and is always very well received by the elderly in our community.”

Andrea Amacna, from the Engagement Centre at the school, said: “The residents of Walney island were overwhelmed when they were met at their doorsteps by students from Walney school.

“Smiles and Christmas cheer could be seen by all and it was lovely to see how grateful each and every person was, when receiving their gifts, carefully wrapped by the students who took part.

Mrs Amacna said the aim of the project was to show their community spirit.

“The aim of this project is for students to recognise that Christmas can sometimes be a lonely time of year for some," she said.

"It's all about the kindness of giving and not just receiving gifts.

“Around 95 students took part in the delivery this year, both year seven students and Year 11 senior students. 140 parcels were delivered around the Walney community.

“Students really enjoyed handing gifts to the community and some students even said that it brought not only a tear to their eye, but to the people who were receiving the gifts too.

"The success of this project will definitely see it taking place in future years."

The scheme is one part of many charitable schemes the school runs to benefit the community.

Mrs Amacna said: “We have a large charity ethos at Walney school run by Mrs Magee and the charity committee and this project is just a small sample of what Walney school are involved with. Thank you to all that took part.”

In the last few months the school has also run various charitable schemes in connection with their Kindness week and have also made donations to the foodbank and participated in LEGO’s Christmas ‘Build to Give’ campaign, where for every brick ornament that a student made LEGO will donate another set to a child in desperate need of play.