By VIVIENNE NICOLL

AT this time of year many children enjoy the daily fun of opening a door on an advent calendar and finding a piece of chocolate.

But youngsters at a city primary school have been operating a reverse advent calendar by taking food to school for homeless people.

Pupils at Our Lady of Peace primary in Barlarnark started the scheme a couple of years ago as they learned about what they could do for others during advent.

This year they have collected enough tins of food and packets of pasta and biscuits to fill 14 hampers.

A group of 10 children from the senior years at the primary took the hampers to the North East Homeless Service.

They received a formal thank you from city homelessness charity the Marie Trust which will distribute the food to homeless people.

Laura McAleese, a P7 teacher at the primary school, has been co-ordinating the food collection scheme.

She said: “Every class was given a box at the beginning of December and every day children brought in tins of soup or vegetables and packets of pasta and biscuits.

“We have been talking about advent and giving to others who are less fortunate than ourselves.

“The scheme is about showing it is not just about receiving presents but about giving as well.

“We want children to think about the real message of Christmas and not just how many toys they are going to get.

“I have a P7 class and my classroom has been overflowing with tins from the children and their families.

“This area is quite deprived but the people are very generous and charitable and the children really like being involved.

“Parents were still handing things in today so I may have to think about making up a 15th hamper or finding space in the others.”