Student praised for charity work

The school have been involved with the appeal for the past seven years and during her five years at the school, student Alex Stewart has gone the extra mile by filling and donating much needed supplies to the local charity.

Blytheswood Care, which has a shop in Banbridge, is marking the twentieth anniversary of their Shoebox Appeal this year.

The Christian charity has donated over 1.6 million shoeboxes over the years. Boxes are filled with personal items, such as scarves, gloves, hats, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

The shoeboxes are then shipped off to various companies, including to Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Pakistan, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.

The co-ordinating teacher at Rathfriland High School, Miss Donna Wilson, praised Alex, and fellow students, for their commitment and enthusiasm over the years.

“Alex is a very kind and generous girl and she really gets her teeth stuck in,” said Miss Wilson.

“She starts collecting items early on and this year she donated 25 boxes.”