Barbara Millett will be doing more packing than she bargained for when she travels to Cuba later this month on a charter flight... thanks to the generosity of locals.

In February, Mrs. Millett spoke of her wish to take back school supplies that the children in Cuba could us in the classroom. The response has been overwhelming and now instead of her own luggage she will be taking several boxes of school items from pens, pencils, rulers and crayons to encyclopaedias, bibles, toys, math problem solving games and computer paper. Two women even used their artistic talents to make 80 plain paper books with pictures of animals on the cover.

"I'm hoping there is even more coming," said Mrs. Millett ahead of the October 26 trip.

"I'm thankful for what people have brought. If the encyclopaedias are not able to go to Cuba, because there is a ban on certain books in Cuba, then I will be sending them to Africa where I understand they are building schools. They will be able to use them.

"In Cuba they are still very careful about what the children read and I don't want to go against the law there."

Mrs. Millett, who has her own Upholstery business, went on her first trip to Cuba last year. One of the highlights of the trip was her visit to a school in a Havana neighbourhood called Escuela Nacional Augusto Cesar Santo. There she saw the children sharing pencils and other items and vowed, upon returning to Bermuda, that she would help make it possible for each child to have their own pencils and pens.

Within days of the article appearing in the Lifestyle section, Mrs. Millett received the first items. One of the first items was from Anise McKay who wanted to do something to help after her mother read the newspaper article to her.

"Her request, at age five, was that we give it to the children there," said Mrs. Millett.

"Her mother said she read the story to her daughter and she said she wanted to give. I thought that was commendable. If more people brought their children up to care about others we'd have a better world."

Bermuda High School student Rajika Goel said she had lots of friends, classmates and teachers helping her collect items.

Two women collected dozens of the small personal item pouches from one of the airlines which were discarded at the airport and they will have appreciative new owners in Cuba, to be used to carry pens, pencils and crayons.

Christin White collected boxes and boxes of loose paper and exercise books from local businesses which will also be put to good use by the Cuban children.

"People have thought about the project, they're not just giving any ordinary pencils and pens," said Mrs. Millett.

"Even though a lot of the pencils and pens have been used, people have also bought new packages of pens and new packages of pencils, sharpeners, rulers, rubbers (erasers)...all of that."

People wishing to donate school items can still do so by contacting Mrs. Millett at 292-6662.