Boxing Up some Christmas cheer
Date published: 24 November 2009
GIFTS galore . . . Lynn Cunningham (left) and Lesley Austin with the shoe boxes full of gifts
Hard work, but fulfilling
STAFF at Shaw firm Fulfilment Logistics are spreading Christmas joy to needy children.
They have collected 185 shoeboxes to send to youngsters in orphanages and deprived areas in place like Belarus and Africa.
They are filled with basic items such as soap, a face cloth and toothbrush as well as toys and gifts for boys and girls.
Lynn Cunningham, receptionist at the mail order business, has been organising the collections for the last five years and is delighted at being able to send some festive cheer.
She said: “A lot of these children don’t have anything and don’t know what toys are. It’s hard work collecting all the boxes but it’s worth the effort in the end.”
Pupils share the festive spirit
STUDENTS at Werneth’s St Augustine’s School have also taken part in the shoe box appeal.
Children as far away as Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe will receive a box filled with gifts from them.
The students wanted youngsters from war zones, refugee and emergency evacuation centres and areas of poverty to know the excitement of opening a surprise gift on Christmas morning.
Head teacher Mike McGhee said: “I am never surprised by the response our generous and thoughtful students have to people in need. They have searched out things they believe a young person would like to receive on Christmas morning.
“They can now enjoy their own Christmas knowing they have shared the message of Christmas with others. These are indeed young people to be proud of.”
l Christmas cheer . . . St Augustine’s School pupils, with Sarah Robinson (12) at the front, with some of the shoe boxes they will be sending to deprived children.
Family helps boost school’s donation
THESE shoe boxes are on their way to help poor children in eastern Europe to enjoy some Christmas spirit thanks to a Royton school.
And one family has done more than most to provide the Operation Christmas Child appeal with the boxes, which are filled with toys, goodies and small items of clothing such as hats and gloves.
Sam Jagger (nine), his sister Xara (six) and their mum Nicola, of Lea View, Royton, collected 30 boxes between them, which have been taken to St Paul’s School, where they will be collected by the Samaritan’s Purse charity.
Nicola began collecting for the boxes by buying twin packs of goods, and getting a large pile of flat pack shoe boxes from a high street retailer.
They chose gifts suitable for teenagers, including a flannel, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, hat, gloves and socks.
Pupils pictured with their Christmas shoe boxes are (from the left, back) Jordan Hardman, Georgia Macdonald, Nancy Chadwick, (front) Sam Jagger, Imaan Arshaid, Megan Marlor, Ben Smithies and Daniel Howe.
