A NORTHWICH school is helping to combat poverty as part of the Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal’s latest community project.

Witton Church Walk CE Primary School has been filling backpacks with basic educational items to help some of the world’s poorest children.

Pupils collected 10 backpacks as part of their Harvest Festival activities.

The project – known as Mary’s Meals Backpack Project – was brought to Northwich earlier this year after they sent letters to around 20 schools, appealing for their support.

Backpacks are filled with notebooks, pens, pre-used school clothing, toothbrushes and toothpaste and are sent to children who are receiving help from Mary’s Meals – an organisation which runs school feeding projects in communities where hunger and poverty stop children from gaining an education.

The international charity provides a meal every school day for more than 750,000 children in 16 countries.

Gordon Atkinson, international committee chairman for Northwich Vale Royal Rotary Club, said: “If children and their families are able to donate small practical things, often things which they no longer need, it can make a life transforming difference to another child.”

Daniel Adams, head of fundraising at Mary’s Meals, said: “The children who benefit from Mary’s Meals and the backpack project have suffered war, poverty, famine, or natural disaster.

“They don’t have pencils and notebooks, or even suitable clothes to wear to school – this means they can miss out on an education.”

For more information, or to get involved, email Gordon Atkinson at marysmealsnvr@gmail.com or visit marysmeals.org.uk.

Is your school involved in an charity appeal? Tell us, by emailing northwich@guardiangrp.co.uk