Firefighters support - Operation Christmas Child
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking local residents to help support this years Operation Christmas Child Appeal by donating more gifts than ever before.
Since 1990, Operation Christmas Child has brought the joy of Christmas to more than 47 million boys and girls. Last year Samaritan’s Purse in the UK sent out over 1.18 million gifts to children across Eastern Europe and Africa. This annual project enables caring individuals, families, schools, churches, businesses, and other organisations to fill ordinary shoe-boxes with small toys, school supplies, sweets, and other gifts for children around the world.
Shoe Box appeal co-ordinator, Maureen Maddison said:
“Last year the Service received approximately 700 shoe boxes from the Nuneaton area and many more shoe-boxes from other Warwickshire area residents. This year we are hoping to collect even more, by asking residents to pack up any gifts they think would make a child’s Christmas. Shoe boxes, can be dropped into a number of fire stations including Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington, Bedworth and Atherstone.”
Gifts should be new or very nearly new, below are a few ideas of what to pack:
· Cuddly toy
· Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, flannel
· Colouring books, pencils, sharpener, crayons, felt pens
· Hat, scarf, gloves
· Jigsaw puzzle, toy cars, hair accessories
· Small musical instrument
Do not pack edibles such as chocolate, fruit or biscuits. You can send sweets, but the sell by date must run to at least the end of March 2007.
For further information on what can be put into a show box and how to pack it, please log onto http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com