Last updated 13:04, Friday, 24 October 2008

AN appeal has been launched to create a little Christmas cheer for impoverished children in Eastern Europe.

Operation Christmas Child, organised by international charity Samaritan’s Purse, asks people to fill a shoebox with gifts and useful items that could make all the difference to a child in Romania.

Last year an amazing 11,000 shoeboxes were sent from South and West Cumbria alone. The boxes went to children in poverty or without homes.

District co-ordinator Rosemary Webster said: “Everything in the shops is more expensive and people are cutting back but there are still millions of children in the world who are a great deal worse off than we are. We really hope people will think about these children and fill a shoebox.”

More information is available by picking up a leaflet from the Evening Mail offices, ordering one by calling 0870 011 2002 or the website www.operationchristmaschild.co.uk

All you have to do is decide whether your shoebox is for a boy or a girl and what age group it is for – two to four years old, five to nine years old or 10 to 14 years old.

Then fill a medium-sized shoebox with small gifts – for example, stationery; a hat and scarf; soap and flannel; toothbrush and paste; a ball; cuddly toy; something to do, like a card game, dominoes or a mouth organ; and a toy like a model car or jewellery.

The box and lid should be gift-wrapped separately because they have to be checked.

The shoeboxes will be collected between November 1 and 18 from Tracey Wells Hairdressers, Rawlinson Street, Barrow; Co-op Funeral Services, Roose Road, Barrow; the Evening Mail office, Wellington Street, Millom; Cumbria Furniture Services, North Lonsdale Road, Ulverston; The Salon, King Street, Ulverston; and Emmanuel Christian Centre, Mill Street, Ulverston.

Tracey Wells has been acting as a collection point for four years and last year was snowed under by 360 boxes.

She said: “Last year this area sent more boxes than anywhere else in the North West. A lot of the churches and schools get involved and people have started bringing them in already.

“Last year we sent 360 from here and people were climbing over boxes to get their hair done.

“Filling a box is good fun to do and it will be the only thing these children get this Christmas. You can fill a shoebox with as little or as much as you want and it could cost £5 or £50 – it’s entirely up to you.”