Sutherland school kids pack 200 festive boxes

It is an initiative that will bring a little bit of joy at Christmas to the hard lives of refugees in eastern Europe.

Members of Rotakids and Interact clubs in Sutherland schools have been busy during the last few weeks filling shoeboxes with items donated by individuals and businesses.

They have enjoyed cramming the boxes full of both useful and fun gifts ranging from scarves and gloves to writing materials, playing cards, toiletries, costume jewellery and make-up.

There are shoeboxes for boys and girls of a young age or teenagers, or a more general household box.

East Sutherland Rotary Club representative Alistair Risk made the rounds of the schools to pick up the boxes.

He said: "I have had the joy of collecting more than 200 filled boxes from Brora, Golspie, Dornoch and Rogart primaries and Golspie High School and Dornoch Academy.

"Lorries leave this week to take them to Kiev and beyond so that less fortunate children and families can have something to open at Christmas"

The scheme has seen more than 200,000 boxes filled across the UK with 12,000 in Grampian and Highland and 1000 alone in the area north of Inverness.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.