School pupils donate their shoes to less fortunate

Pupils with their shoe donations.

PUPILS from Forest and Sandridge School ended the year barefoot as they donated their shoes to children in need via the charity Mercy in Action, totalling 274 pairs. 

On the last day of school on Tuesday 24th July, pupils were invited to leave behind their school shoes, if they were no longer needed, to be donated to children in the Philippines through the charity Mercy in Action. They were lined up through the corridor of the school, reaching over half-way.

Mercy In Action is a charity based in Bath, which provides care for vulnerable children in the Philippines. Although the charity is able to offer food and uniforms to several hundreds of children, shoes are particularly expensive, and so many go without. The idea for pupils to donate their shoes was inspired by retired teaching assistant, Sue Henderson, who is now an ambassador of the charity.

Sue told Melksham News, “We did the donation last year as well and the parents were happy to join in again. Students in the Philippines aren’t allowed to attend school if they don’t have the correct uniform, so donations like this are more than welcomed.

“Last year the charity sent over 800 pairs of shoes and it’s already looking like there will be more overall this year. Forest and Sandridge have collected 274 pairs this year, which is more than last year for sure.”