New jerseys from the old Waitaki Girls' High School uniform are on their way to Christchurch to help Avonside Girls' High School pupils who lost uniforms in the two previous earthquakes, while Clyde Primary School pupils loaded almost 200 boxes of clothing and food on to a truck bound for Christ-church's Phillipstown Primary School.
The 150 red jerseys, still in their plastic wrapping and originally costing about $80 each, were left at Waitaki Girls' uniform shop when the uniform jerseys changed to black in 2007.
Principal Lynlee Smith said yesterday the jerseys, which were the same colour as those of Avonside Girls' High - Waitaki's sister school in Christchurch - had been offered to Avonside principal Sue Hume, who was keen to take them.
Yesterday, Waitaki Transport loaded six cartons of the jerseys, ranging in size from extra small to large, on to a truck for free transport to Christchurch.
"A lot of girls at Avonside lost whole uniforms and items in the quakes. For some families, it will be a real struggle to replace them," Ms Smith said.
The jerseys were in addition to $12,000 raised by the 400 pupils at Waitaki Girls' during a work day, which would go to its two sister schools, Avonside and Christchurch Girls' High School.
Clyde Primary School pupils loaded almost 200 boxes of clothing and food on to a truck bound for Christchurch's Phillipstown Primary School yesterday morning.
The year 7 and 8 classes passed 194 boxes of donated clothes and apples in chain-gang fashion under the watchful eye of the clothing drive co-ordinator, Naomi Kennan.
Mrs Kennan said she had heard a radio interview two weeks ago in which the principals of New Brighton and Phillipstown Primary Schools had talked about how their schools and pupils had been affected by the quakes.
Pupils from Alexandra and The Terrace Primary Schools also contributed, as did many people in the community.
Mrs Kennan said she was sure some people had been knitting furiously because many matching knitted hat, scarf and glove sets had been given.
- Additional reporting by Sarah Marquet.
