Each year, toys, games, writing materials and toiletries are delivered to disadvantaged youngsters and elderly people in central and eastern Europe through the Rotary Shoebox scheme. This year school children in Malawi also benefited. 

731 special boxes, paid for and supplied by Rotary in Harpenden, were filled by pupils from nine local schools, a Scout group and several grown-ups, to be delivered in time for Christmas. The number of shoeboxes delivered since 2001 amounts to 20,881. 

Although inflation had caused a sharp rise in the cost of the shoeboxes, the very generous contributions of those participating realised a £310 surplus, which they agreed should be spent on providing text books, about 125, for schoolchildren in Malawi. 

Our photo above is of pupils from Crabtree School loading some of their filled shoeboxes.