IT'S a time for giving – and that is what schoolchildren did to brighten up Christmas for seafaring folk from all over the world.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy made 100 boxes of gifts for seafarers stopping in Immingham this Christmas, often thousands of miles away from home and their families.
It is the third year that Immingham Port chaplain Father Colum Kelly has been involved in the project, which went from just 100 boxes in 2010, to 200 in 2011 and a massive 1,100 this year.
Mr Kelly said: "We wanted to give them a bit of luxury or they might not even know it's Christmas – and I don't think they get anything from the shipping companies.
Various Catholic churches and primary schools have helped put the boxes together, as well as the port community of Immingham.
They will be handed out during the Christmas period and into the middle of next year as the Russian seafarers celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Every student brought £2 worth of goods from a list which includes biscuits and toiletries.
Head teacher Sarah Pollard said: "I'm really proud of how much the children and parents got behind this."
Rosiegh Giblin, 10, said: "I wanted to give them presents because I wouldn't want to be away from my family at Christmas.
"My brother Harrison bought a present as well but I can't believe how many shoe boxes there are."
