Charity begins at home -- as several of Bermuda's children have proved in the run-up to Christmas.

Touched by the plight of so many of their less fortunate peers, several youngsters decided to help make things better in their own special way.

Ten-year-old Alexandra Jones took one look at her toy-filled bedroom and decided she had too much.

"There were many things I no longer played with so my dad said, `Why don't you give them to children who don't have any Christmas toys?''' she related.

So, this week the Bermuda High School student bundled up a Barbie Doll set, a radio-cassette player, a View Master and films, colouring books and crayons, a Jeopardy set and an Etch and Sketch board, and delivered them to the Salvation Army.

"I think that the children will enjoy these things because they don't have anything to play with,'' Alexandra said.

Even though some of the toys were her favourites, the Warwick resident had no regrets about her decision. In fact, under orders to clean up her room, Alexandra was certain she would have even more toys to give away before Santa arrived with more! "Christmas is also about the birth of Jesus Christ,'' she said referring to her choice of the Salvation Army as recipients. "That is part of the Christmas spirit.'' Sitting around her house one day with her friends, Daniel Dickinson (7), Fraser Hunt (9) and Sara Poerstamper (7), nine-year-old Melissa Durrant suggested they make Christmas decorations with the craft paper and crayons she had to hand.

Soon after the project began, Melissa had an idea.

"We were making them for my room at first and I said, `Why don't we make them and sell them around the neighbourhood?'' To unanimous approval, a modest assembly line was soon set up. "We cut out circles of paper and Melissa drew Christmas trees in the middle of them. Then Sara, Fraser and I coloured the outside of them, and poked a hole in them,'' Daniel explained.

When they had done, the quartet set out to sell their handiwork. With him, Fraser carried a bag of string cut into lengths. One piece per ornament would be distributed to customers wishing to hang them up.

To their amazement, the young entrepreneurs did well.

"We sold them for five cents each. One man gave us $2 for three, and Daniel gave us his pocket money of $2,'' Sara revealed.

With two sold, the children had a better idea.

"Daniel, Fraser and I said, `Let's raise money for the handicapped children','' Melissa explained.

When they had sold the lot they were astonished at the amount they had raised.

Thus it was that the Committee of 25 for Handicapped Children received, in cash, $9.52 from the four concerned children.

"The money can be used to help buy bandages, wheelchairs and clothes. Also, they can send handicapped children away for treatment so they can act like all of us,'' a fit and healthy Melissa said.

In accepting the children's donation, Committee of 25 caseworker Mrs. Penny Powell said: "This is so exciting. We are absolutely thrilled at what they have done. The way we look at it, this is really the true spirit of Christmas.'' Nor did the caring students' efforts go unnoticed at their schools, Saltus Cavendish and Saltus Primary. They each received good deed certificates.

"Daniel and Sara had to go up on front of the assembly at school and Mrs.

Williams gave us these green and black things saying, `Well done for a good deed','' Fraser said.

"It's our good deed for Christmas,'' Daniel said of the venture. "It's the first time we did this and I think we are going to do some more for next Christmas.'' And when they do, Matthew Durrant (10), Melissa's brother, will be part of the team.

CARING AND SHARING -- Caseworker Mrs. Penny Powell receives $9.52 from (left to right) Melissa Durrant (9), Daniel Dickinson (7), Sara Poerstamper (7) and Fraser Hunt (9) on behlaf of the Committee of 25 for Handicapped Children. The Pembroke children made and sold Christmas decorations to raise funds for the registered charity.