Youngsters from St Helen’s Primary School in Ipswich gathered nearly 900 vital items of food to be donated as Christmas parcels to the East of England Co-op.

Ipswich Star: St Helen's Primary has been collecting food for the East of England Co-op in Ipswich to create food parcels this Christmas. Picture: GREGG BROWNSt Helen's Primary has been collecting food for the East of England Co-op in Ipswich to create food parcels this Christmas. Picture: GREGG BROWN

On Tuesday all the donations were brought together to be packaged, before being picked up by the East of England Co-op to be distributed to those in the local area in need this Christmas.

Among the items were coffee, biscuits, pasta, tea bags, rice, and family essentials such as toilet rolls and nappies.

Ipswich Star: St Helen's Primary has been collecting food for the East of England Co-op in Ipswich to create food parcels this Christmas. Picture: GREGG BROWNSt Helen's Primary has been collecting food for the East of England Co-op in Ipswich to create food parcels this Christmas. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Headteacher Kate Hodgetts said the students from the school council wanted to tackle the issue of poverty as some of their peers often “went without”.

She added: “This is an amazing thing for young people to want to do.”

Ipswich Star: St Helen's Primary has been collecting food for the East of England Co-op in Ipswich to create food parcels this Christmas. Picture: GREGG BROWNSt Helen's Primary has been collecting food for the East of England Co-op in Ipswich to create food parcels this Christmas. Picture: GREGG BROWN

“I am so proud of the children at our school who always try to help each other and I know that this small act of kindness and generosity has already had a huge impact on all our families especially those who received much needed parcels this Christmas.”