EACH year Operation Christmas Child collects thousands of shoeboxes packed full of toys, sweets and other goodies.

Since 1990 they have delivered millions of these presents to children in countries like Bosnia, Romania, Serbia, Belarus, Ukraine and over 100 other impoverished nations.

Many of the children have been orphaned or abandoned; some are sick with AIDS or other life-threatening diseases. Without Operation Christmas Child, they would have no Christmas at all.

Following a thought-provoking assembly at St Mary's Catholic High School at Astley students from Years 7-13 have generously supported this worthwhile cause collected an amazing 201 shoeboxes.