Edmund De Moundeford Primary School pupils complete reverse advent calendar to help The Food Pantry in Feltwell

A school’s youngsters have done themselves and their teachers proud after completing a special festive project.

The 175 pupils who attend Edmund De Moundeford Primary School in Feltwell decided to support a good cause through a reverse advent calendar, presenting an opportunity to bring in a range of items.

The donated items would then support The Food Pantry, which is a volunteer-led food bank based at the church in the village which allows families to purchase produce at a reduced rate – as well as preparing free food parcels for those in need.

“Christmas should be a time of happiness and celebration, but we’re aware that this isn’t the case for all, so as a school we wanted to help our local community,” deputy header teacher Michelle Ablitt said.

“The event has been far bigger than we ever thought possible and I’m very proud to be part of this thoughtful community.”

The school council has been involved in gathering the items for the last four weeks, with each class being given different options ranging from pasta and toothpaste to Christmas selection boxes.

A special assembly was held last Friday (December 15) where members of the The Food Pantry visited and explained more about their aim of supporting the surrounding villages.

The donations were then handed over, with plenty of car trips needed for the hundreds of items collected.

Suzanne Cantrill, from The Food Pantry, said: “The team at The Food Pantry Feltwell were extremely excited when the local school contacted us in the hopes of doing a reverse advent calendar. What a fantastic idea!

“We are overjoyed and overwhelmed by the amount of items pupils and families have contributed. These items could potentially help support 50+ families over the Christmas period and beyond.”

There are a range of events planned for Edmund De Moundeford Primary School within the community in 2024, including taking part in the annual carnival and class visits to local farms.

Got a story? Email newsdesk@lynnnews.co.uk