Shoe box appeal Operation Xmas Child

[Clevercat]

I love doing this with the kids, and fully support this charity.  I have seen footage from when one of the organisers delivered hundreds of boxes to some of the most deprived children. The joy brought to their faces from some of the most simple of toys/presents was just touching to the core.  It is a great reminder of how utterly spoilt we are as a nation.

CHRISTMAS might be more than two months away but people across Wiltshire will soon be asked to start sharing the festive spirit with children in some of the world's poorest countries.

The annual Operation Christmas Child project, run by charity Samaritans' Purse and backed by the Wiltshire Times, is once again gearing up to deliver shoeboxes filled with treats, and bring joy to children in desperate need.

This year is the 15th anniversary of the project in Wiltshire, so organisers are hoping to celebrate the landmark by making it extra special.

Judith Whalley, a volunteer for Samaritans' Purse, said: "Last year we sent 43,253 boxes from our area, so it would be great to see 50,000 this time, although that might be a bit ambitious and I think if we were to get to 45,000 we would have done well.

"The best way to try and get the numbers up is to say to people who have done a box in previous years try and find someone who hasn't done one before and ask them to do it this time."

Boxes from the Wiltshire area are delivered to eastern Europe, and lorries will be making trips to Bosnia, Serbia, the Ukraine and Romania.

advertisementThey are given to children of all ages from toddlers to teenagers, and for many it is the first gift they have ever received.

These parcels, which are so easy and cheap to put together, make the world of difference to some of the most disadvantaged children.

Mrs Whalley said: "The question I get asked most by children who get the boxes is why have people who don't even know me send me this gift.

"We tell them it's because we love and care for them and it shows they are not forgotten, which makes a massive difference."

As well as individuals, many organisations such as schools and church groups do boxes together, and any group collecting more than 50 can have them collected by Samaritans' Purse.

Since Operation Christmas Child was launched in 1990, the British public have sent 1.24 million boxes to children across the world.

Shoeboxes should be delivered to the drop-off points listed below between November 4 and November 20.


Trowbridge: The Wiltshire Times office, 15 Duke Street.


Melksham: Queensway Chapel pre-school, Melksham Town Hall, Operation Christmas Child depot 12 Hercules Way, Bowerhill.


Bradford on Avon: Sainsbury's supermarket, Tillions china shop.


Westbury: Coopers supermarket, Edward Street.


Warminster: Warminster Prep School
Frome: St John's Baptist Church, Bath Street, Frome Valley Cleaners, Clink.

Leaflets giving advice on how to prepare a shoebox are available at all the drop-off centres and from libraries throughout Wiltshire, Trowbridge Tourist Information Centre and Westbury Visitor Centre.

Wilt TImes

[Angelina]

will have to make an effort then !!!

[Clevercat]

Managed to get three empty boxes from shoe shop in High St this afternoon........ going to start filling them tomorrow. See there are already many boxes already in Coopers.   

[Clevercat]

http://ppumc.com/html/operation_xmas_child.html


Got some lovely things in Wilkinsons yesterday for the boxes, doing three, one for a one yr old girl, a five yr old girl and a nine yr old boy.  Lots of sweets, drinking bottles, toys, wallets, hats and gloves, some real quality bargains bought, got the kids involved after school by getting them to divide the things up.
Thinking of taking my son over to the Melksham warehouse one Sat to help check the boxes.

Love it love it love it, wish I could do more really. 

[Clevercat]

SHOE boxes full of festive treats for children in eastern Europe are piling up at drop-off centres across west Wiltshire.

Operation Christmas Child 2007 is in full swing and with just four more days until the closing date, people are being urged to make sure they get their boxes in on time.

Children at schools across the district have also been busy putting together boxes, and presenting them to Samaritans Purse, the charity that runs Operation Christmas Child.

Last Wednesday (November 7) pupils at Roundstone School in Trowbridge and The Mead Primary School in Hilperton, handed over their boxes that were filled with everything from toys to pens and socks to gloves.

Roundstone headteacher Mary Pearce said: "We have done boxes here for a long time now, and all the children do it and they enjoy doing it.

"Some children bring in more than one box and if they've done one for a boy, they'll maybe also do one for a girl.

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"We've done it so long that it has become a natural thing here, and we are glad that we are able to help."

Pupils at The Mead filled more than 140 boxes, with all playing their part in bringing some festive cheer to children less fortunate than themselves.

Once the boxes are collected from schools and drop-off points, they are taken to a depot in Bowerhill near Melksham, before being put on lorries bound for eastern Europe, where they are distributed to some of the world's poorest children.

For many youngsters, being presented with the shoe box is the first gift they have ever received.

The Wiltshire Times office in Duke Street, is acting as the Trowbridge drop-off point, and over the past two weeks a constant stream of boxes have been delivered.

Wiltshire Times receptionist Maureen Humphries, said: "People have been so generous because we've had so many boxes dropped off every day.

"Even though they are collected from the office every evening, they have still really been piling up.

"All ages have been doing the boxes as well, from school children to older people, which is fantastic."

Tuesday is the last day boxes should be delivered to the drop-off points.

If organisations or groups collect more than 50 boxes they can arrange to have them picked up instead of taking them to drop-off points.

For further information visit www.samaritanspurse.uk.com

Wilt Times

[Clevercat]

Time to start collecting again it seems...........

[Clevercat]

I am afraid to say that the lovely three boxes I made up never quite made it to be delivered what with one thing and another, but on calling my Aunt the other day she says all is lost not, the collection is still ongoing, so if you still have any donations you can contact the Operation Xmas child still to drop off donations.

[Clevercat]

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/inyourtown/trowbridgenews/8634599.Appeal_at_North_Bradley_is_labour_of_love/

 

I have to say I am feeling a tad guilty that i have not done it this year