Four elementary school students collected thousands of gifts to give to struggling families and children who might be deprived of them.

Ava, Thea, Phoebe and Laurie, from Kingswood Parks Primary School in Hull, called themselves the Santa Squad.

They have been raising funds and donations since the summer and have collected more than 2,500 gifts for organizations to distribute to more than 900 people experiencing poverty.

Laurie, 10, said: “It makes me really happy, but it also makes me really sad that I have to do this.”

The group was founded by Ava, 11, and her sister Thea, 10, in 2022, after seeing an advert about child poverty on television.

Ava added: “I’m finally doing something for people and I feel really proud of myself for it.”

In the program’s first year, the Santa Squad gave gifts to 100 people, up from 183 last year, when friends Phoebe and Laurie also joined the team.

This year they helped 912 people, with each gift bag containing three to five items.

Fundraising events included bake sales and raffles to raise money to purchase needed toys, games, books, toiletries and food.

They were also named finalists in the BBC Radio Humberside Make A Difference Awards in September.

Phoebe, 11, is already planning next year’s fundraiser.

She said: “For preparation we will be organizing different stalls and perhaps a sponsored walk again.”

Thea added: “It will definitely be bigger and better.”

Ava and Thea’s mother Beki said she couldn’t describe how proud she was of them for their efforts.

She said: “The compassion and genuine joy they feel from helping others is heartwarming.

“I’m not sure they fully understand how great and impressive what they’re doing is.”

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