Fill a box for Operation Christmas Child
Thursday 16th September 2010, 10:02AM BST.
Operation Christmas Child, one of the UK’s leading annual children’s charity projects, is seeking support from people in Shropshire as it marks the 20th anniversary of its famous “shoebox” campaign.
The 2010 campaign is launched this week and runs until November 18. In 2009, more than 11,900 shoeboxes full of presents were given by individuals and groups in Shropshire.
The gift-filled shoeboxes were checked at the charity’s processing centres in Shrewsbury, Telford, Hereford and Wrexham before being transported to Crimea, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
“When the first gift-filled shoeboxes were delivered in 1990 to children living in terrible conditions in Romanian orphanages in the aftermath of the collapse of the Ceausescu regime, no-one really thought the campaign would still be going 20 years on,” said Zoe Gregg, for Operation Christmas Child.
“However, it really caught people’s imagination and the campaign has grown to help vulnerable children in a wide range of countries. Sadly, many tens of thousands of children are living in very challenging situations today, and the kindness of those who donate a gift-filled shoebox is every bit as important now as it was in 1990.”
Anyone wishing to participate in this year’s campaign should visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk or contact the Helpline on 0870 011 2002.
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff doesn't raise a smile
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
I have been doing this with my grandchildren for the past 7 years.
It gives them all a sense of perspective They are now aware that not everyone is as fortunate as theirselves.The first year they did it it took some convincing that these people has so little.
It also gives a good feeling that a few more children / adults ( because you can do adult boxes) do get a little pleasure at Christmas out of them – And treasure their gifts a lot more than the fortunate people in this country.
If you have not tried doing one – I emplore you to – It gives a lot of satisfaction.
Report abuse