Ottery children praised for shoebox appeal

DEPRIVED children in Third World countries will be better off thanks to the efforts of Ottery Primary School children.

DEPRIVED children in Third World countries will be better off thanks to the efforts of Ottery Primary School children.

For the third year running, the school has participated in Operation Christmas Child, an initiative of Samaritan's Purse.

The youngsters have stuffed shoeboxes full of gifts and goodies which will be sent to children in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Police Community Support Officer Maria Clapp, who introduced the scheme to the school, is overwhelmed by the response.

She said: "The children have collected about 45 boxes this year and I'm thrilled. It's great as it makes the children think of other children who haven't got what they have."

PCSO Clapp will be collecting the boxes today and they will soon be sent off along with the 1.2million others from all over the country.