MILLTHORPE School has joined a new project launching in York that will help give Christmas presents to care home residents who will be alone throughout the festive season.

The Silver Santa project asks people to donate shoeboxes full of gifts to Silver Santa who will will distribute them to care homes in York including Armana House.

The project is being trialled in York before it is rolled out nationally by the charity Attend UK.

Organiser, Pauline Redman, said: “More than 30 percent of elderly individuals in care homes won’t have a visitor on Christmas day.

“We have had a lot of help from schools across the city including Millthorpe, Manor CE and Joseph Rowntree who are donating several shoeboxes.

“Several students are going into Armana House on Christmas Day to spend time with residents.

English teacher at Millthorpe School, Arielle Redman, said: “Our student council decided that this scheme would be a worth cause.

“We have spent today preparing shoeboxes and the children can’t wait to see the difference it will make to the care home residents.”

If you would like to donate you can please fill a shoebox with a selection of gifts and place a label on it to show whether it is suitable for a male or female and send an email to Silversanta@gmail.com for it to be collected.