A SCHOOL community has proved Christmas is a time for giving after bagging a host of treats for teenagers across County Durham.
The festive goodies from St John’s School and Sixth Form College, Bishop Auckland, will be distributed across County Durham among less fortunate young people, some of who are on children’s wards, in families in need, sheltering at women’s refuges or are homeless.
For weeks students, staff, parents, carers, grandparents, former members of staff and friends of St John’s have been collecting for the charity Angel Trust, which supports projects that enhance and improve the local community and promote good citizenship.
More than 200 bags were packed with an array of gifts including hats, gloves, socks, toothpaste and toothbrushes and other toiletry items, small puzzles, playing cards, dominoes, school supplies, hair accessories, make-up, jewellery, sweets and chocolates.
The school’s Learning Resource Centre manager Linzi Heads said: “All students were given time during pastoral sessions to work together to pack Christmas gift bags for teenagers; some packed a gift bag on their own, others worked within a group to produce a gift bag between them.
“It was a real community effort for our new initiative. Angel Trust were absolutely delighted that their cars were full to bursting with over 200 of our gift bags.”
Clair McGregor, of Angel Trust, said: “The bags will be distributed across County Durham and delivered in time for Christmas.”