Shoebox Squad donates more than 500 festive gifts

Tilly Clarke and Sienna Brown, both at Hellesdon High School, are the Shoebox Squad and this year they hit new heights in their annual appeal and packed a total of 560 gifts to help people who might not otherwise receive gifts.

The girls started their annual appeal while pupils at Firside Junior School and last year collected 428 shoe boxes for delivery. Before this year’s total was known, the duo had filled more than 800 boxes in total since starting their annual appeal.

“The girls have had the most overwhelming response to their 2025 appeal and thanks to the generosity of many, they have been able to pack an incredible 560 shoeboxes and gifts, which more than exceeded year’s total. They have been collected by domestic violence charities, ready to deliver to those in need,”said Tilly’s mum Donna Clarke.

“Watching Tilly and Sienna achieve such wonderful things is an absolute privilege and we could not be more proud of them,” she added.

The appeal was supported by both schools, members of the Wensum Trust, along with local businesses which meant there were multiple drop-off points in more convenient locations.

Vaughan Stevenson, Assistant Principal at Hellesdon High School, said: “We are incredibly proud of Tilly and Sienna, not just for their amazing acts of generosity within the community, but also for their ongoing efforts in school. 

“Managing the day-to-day pressures of secondary school is hard enough, but to then find additional time, along with their families, to support such a worthy cause is amazing. We hope to see the Shoebox Squad go from strength to strength and we will continue to support the movement as best we can!”

Both Hellesdon High and Firside Junior schools acted as collection points for the appeal.

“We would like to send a huge thank-you to The Viking Storage Unit which provided space for storage, wrapping and boxing completely free. Without this gesture the girls would not have been able to reach half the people that they have this year,” said Donna.

Donations came in from far and wide, including Australia where Sophie Augood sent her items via a wishlist set-up on the Amazon website.

Both Norwich charities Leeway and Dawn’s New Horizon were helped by the girls who had help from friends and family. And the Squad also donated gifts to local care homes Broadlands Lodge and Redlands House for the older generation.

Each shoebox was wrapped and packed full of donated treats from chocolate to gloves, books, toys and toiletries.