17 Dec 2024

Naenae school overwhelmed with gifts after error

From Nine To Noon, 10:30 am on 17 December 2024
The Christmas Shoebox Project at Lower Hutt's Naenae Primary School.

Photo: Supplied / Naenae Primary School

An error in Naenae Primary's Shoebox Christmas order this year meant 220 pupils were set to miss out on their end-of-year gift - but instead the story has turned into the ultimate display of Christmas spirit. 

Lower Hutt's Naenae Primary school had only a third of its shoebox Christmas presents turn up this year - due to a mistake on the spreadsheet.

The Christmas Shoebox Project is a nationwide initiative to support families living in hardship. 

Donors provide a gift for a child anonymously, that fits in a shoebox, which the child takes home at the end of the school year.

For some children it is the only gift they receive.

When only a smaller amount showed up, the school's teachers assumed the rest were still to be dropped off - but with school wrapping up today at lunchtime - and no more presents, they realised the mistake. 

Deputy principal Kirsten Reid took to the local community Facebook pages late last night - and has this morning been overwhelmed by generosity from the community. 

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