Caring children and staff from a nursery gave two overflowing crates of goodies to a foodbank by completing a reverse advent calendar.

Riventots Nursery, based at Rivenhall Village Hall, in Church Road, collected items from a shopping list throughout November, which have been donated to the Braintree Area Foodbank’s Christmas appeal.

The idea behind the scheme is children learn about giving by helping those less fortunate at Christmas.

Ruth Hassey, who opened Riventots Nursery in 2013, said: “We think it is really important that children learn about these kind of things when they are young, early years are the foundation for the rest of their lives.

“It is an incredibly good cause and one that more of us should know about.

“We have told the children and they know that people less fortunate will be benefitting from this.”

Riventots Nursery has 34 children on the books, between the ages of two and four.

“The idea is whereas with an advent calendar you open a door every day and receive something, with a reverse advent calendar you bring something in.

“Children were bringing in items from the Christmas list of the Braintree Area Foodbank, things like chocolate, sweets and toiletries.

“One crate was overflowing with food and the other the staff filled with sanitary products for woman as we know this is something they need more of at the foodbank.”

The crates were donated at Rivenhall Primary School, who have run a similar scheme in recent years.

“We will definitely be doing it next year. It is the little things like this we like to do when we can.

“For instance, we do not give Christmas cards, because if a child gave everyone a Christmas card it would be ridiculous.

“We have set up a page to donate for the Fire Fighters Charity instead.

“The parents were very supportive in this and they are always on board with everything we do.”

Mrs Hassey is the children’s example can inspire them as well as others.

“I would love other nurseries to do the same thing” she said.

“It doesn’t matter if you get just a carrier bag, it all makes a different.

“Each time you go shopping, it doesn’t take much to donate one item.

“A tin of beans or a bottle of squash can make a lot of difference.”

For more information about Braintree Area Foodbank, visit www.braintreearea.foodbank.org.uk.