GENEROUS residents turned out with armfuls of children’s toys and clothes to help fill a 20ft container headed for Uganda to help children in need.

Project workers Sue Bonner and Ruth Sims appealed for the items to send to a children’s malnutrition unit at Mulago Hospital in Kampala as part of their Restore project.

The three-day appeal, at Shoebury and Thorpe Bay Baptist Church, saw hundreds of residents send in children’s clothing and outdoor play toys, as well as basic equipment to fill the container.

Southend medical instrument company KeyMed supplied the container and shipped the items to Africa.

Ruth, a former Southend High School pupil, who has a long history of helping people in Africa, said: “I would like to say a big thank-you to the people of Southend, whose response to the container appeal has been magnificent.

“People have given so generously, and in many cases they brought new equipment, toys and clothes.”

The Restore project, which was set up in September 2009, aims to restore the children to good health, by improving the care standards, premises and equipment of the malnutrition unit, called Mwanamugimu.

Sue, who is executive assistant to the Restore project, paid tribute to Southend residents for their generous spirit in supporting the appeal.

She said: “The response has been fantastic. We had so many people come down with donations and many people bought new things from shops, including a microwave. I am so pleased at how generous people have been. I am amazed we have been able to fit everything in.

“We have had some really experienced packers to make sure we could get as much in as we did.”

Eight months since the project started, the hospital has already witnessed vast improvements, including a refurbished emergency room, as well as a dedicated emergency drug fund, which ensures no child dies because their parent or carer cannot afford the treatment.

The full container set sail from Tilbury docks on Saturday, and will take about 13 weeks to reach the hospital.