Shoebox Gifts Will Make Even Greater Difference This Year

Operation Christmas Child is calling on individuals and families in Gloucestershire to save their spare change over the next five weeks and use the resulting sum to buy gifts to put into a shoebox to send to disadvantaged children helped by the charity in several overseas countries.

Bob James, Area Coordinator of Operation Christmas Child in Gloucestershire comments:
"The shoeboxes are going to be even more important this year because of the impact of the global recession. We are very aware of the effect of the downturn on families here at home, but there are many vulnerable children and orphans we are seeking to support in countries where difficult situations have been made even worse by the recession. For example, in Kosova the unemployment rate is now over 40% and about 37% of the population lives in poverty on an income of less than £1.25 a day. Over 17% live in extreme poverty, with a daily income less than 85 pence.

"If people here can put aside any spare change over the next five or six weeks it would build up a sum that they can use to buy gifts to put in a shoebox that Operation Christmas Child will then give to a child living in difficult circumstances. The kindness of people here in giving gifts has been a beacon of light in past years - this year we are confident it will shine even brighter in spite of the recession.

"Lots of us have small change lying about doing nothing and a simple suggestion is for people to take their spare coins to a supermarket which has a cash counting machine and in seconds this will count the loose change and give the customer a voucher. They can then use this to buy gifts for a shoebox. Simple gifts like crayons and a colouring book, pens, pencils and a sharpener, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a soft toy and a ball make a huge difference to a child who has nothing. Many live in orphanages or street shelters, are in hospital or are living with families experiencing real hardship.

"A family here - or a group of friends or work colleagues - can share the joy of choosing gifts to send to boys or girls who will receive their shoeboxes. It really means something to these children."

Operation Christmas Child - one of the UK's largest annual children charity projects - will be accepting shoeboxes up until November 18th before commencing onward transportation and then distribution for which a £2.50 contribution is requested to help cover costs. After October 2nd visit the website http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/, click on ‘Where to take your boxes' and enter your postcode; this will give the nearest drop off point where people can take their shoeboxes. Alternatively, call the Helpline on 0870 011 2002.
ENDS

Editor's Notes:
Operation Christmas Child sends shoeboxes with gifts to children in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Kosova, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Romania, Serbia, Swaziland and Ukraine. It is the biggest annual project run by Samaritan's Purse, the evangelical Christian humanitarian aid charity.

CONTACTS: Bob James, Area Coordinator, Operation Christmas Child
Tel: 01386 881 605 or 07980 187 909
Alistair McLean or Kevin Dorrian of Acumen
Tel. no. 0131 661 7027