For the second year, Rotary in Harpenden supplied Friendship Boxes to junior schools in the Harpenden, Redbourn and Wheathampstead area, to be filled by pupils and parents with educational and recreational items for sending to children in Ukraine.

Dealing with the filled boxes we had the generous help of the Small Removal Company. As well as storing the boxes the company provided one of their vans to deliver the 175 boxes, filled to the brim – and with one of our team – to the collection centre in Hereford.

Under the auspices of Aid Ukraine and Rotarians in Lviv, the boxes were to be distributed to multiple schools across a wide area in time for Christmas to support children most affected by the war in their country.

The Friendship Box scheme also raises the morale of Ukraine’s front-line troops as they see others helping to improve the welfare of their families.

Pictured are three of the junior schools showing off some of their filled Friendship Boxes. Clockwise from left: St Hilda’s, Beech Hyde and High Beeches.