Pupils Provide Boxes of Christmas Cheer for London's Homeless
Christmas is a time when people like to give back. And that’s exactly what one student at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School has done. Victoria McWhirter, a Year 12 student at the School, saw an advert on Faceboook for a Christmas shoebox appeal to help the homeless of London.
Victoria decided that she, and the School, would be able to help the cause. She explained, “I just thought that as a relatively large school, if we all gave just one little thing, then we could make a big impact on the lives of homeless people this Christmas.”
Victoria thought that if the School worked together it could help to make Christmas a special time for everyone. She went on to organise the collection of donations with the help of the School’s Sixth Form Committee. Emails were sent to parents asking for donations of small, ordinary items including toothbrushes, socks, scarves, torches, and biscuits.
The response from pupils and parents has been amazing. So many items have been donated that Victoria and her friends can now put together as many as thirty shoeboxes that will help brighten Christmas for a few of the thousands of people sleeping rough on London’s streets.
Victoria was touched by the turnout, “People’s generosity has been incredible. I didn’t think we would get so many donations. My friends and I will now separate all the items into different sections, such as food and toiletries, to make sure that each shoebox has one of each item.”
Donations continue to flood in. The shoebox appeal has been so popular that one Year 7 class will be putting together their own shoeboxes for the homeless of London.
Headmaster, Mr Spencer Ellis, is delighted by the kindness pupils have shown. “I’m very pleased that our pupils are taking the initiative to help those less fortunate than themselves. A shoebox filled with everyday items may at first appear an insignificant contribution, but it isn’t. I am certain that every single person who receives a shoebox this Christmas will be happy to know that someone has thought of them. Victoria should be very proud of herself and what she has achieved.”
03 December 2015
