STUDENTS showed Christmas spirit by collecting and donating food items to a foodbank. 

Kind-hearted students a Colchester school showed the true spirit of Christmas by coming together and supporting the city’s foodbank. 

St Helena School, in Sheepen Road, asked its pupils to donate food items when possible as part of its Christmas Jumper Day and festive activities ahead of the holidays. 

Students collected the items at the school gates last week and delivered them to the Colchester Foodbank at Tollgate Retail Park in Stanway. 

Charlie McCarthy, head of school at St Helena, said: “Christmas Jumper Day is always a really positive day at St Helena as we get ready for Christmas. 

“We encourage our students every day to be kind and to think of others so it has been great to see them working together with school staff, Ann-Marie Swash and Lisa Copeland, to support our local foodbank." 

During their visit, the students learned how their donations will support food parcels made by the charity and the importance of the service, especially at this time of year. 

The charity recently ran its first Open Voice session in Greenstead to learn and improve the service by identifying issues within the community.