Published at 13:10, Wednesday, 04 November 2009

THERE are just two weeks left to donate Christmas presents to children in poverty.

HAPPY FACES: Children in Podgrica, Montenegro, receive their Christmas shoeboxes from Operation Christmas Child last year

Operation Christmas Child is urging people to put inexpensive gifts in wrapped shoeboxes so they can be donated to children in Crimea, which is part of Ukraine.

In Crimea there are many orphanages with very few resources, where the only things the children have to call their own is a facecloth and underwear.

Ian Taylor, regional manager of Operation Christmas Child in Cumbria, said: “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, 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.”

The charity says simple shoeboxes, brightly wrapped and filled with presents, will make a big difference to a child’s Christmas.

The public has until November 18 to donate the shoeboxes.

People should use a medium-sized shoebox and gift wrap the box and lid separately.

Those donating presents should choose an age group from: two to four years, five to nine years and 10 to 14 years, and fill the box for a boy or a girl.

The gifts should be as new.

Good items to include are: balls, yo-yos, dominoes, skipping ropes, mouth organs, cars, anything to do with football, cuddly toys, craft kits, wind-up torches, hair accessories, dolls, jewellery, wash-bag with facecloth and wrapped soap, toothbrush and paste, picture book (with not a lot of English text), sweets (not chocolates), colouring pencils, colouring books, notebooks, hats, scarves and gloves.

The charity says boxes should be fun, exciting, colourful and educational.

The Operation Christmas Child leaflet includes a list of items that should not be donated.

The charity asks for a suggested donation of £2.50 towards transport costs.

In Barrow the drop-off points for boxes are Co-operative Funeral Care, Roose Road; Tracey Wells Hairdresser, Rawlinson Street; Enterprise Van Hire, Park Road; Shoezone, Dalton Road; and The Owl and the Pussy Cat, Hollywood Park.

If a group is taking boxes to the drop-off point, they should put a name and address in one of the boxes.

Groups who need their shoeboxes collecting, or want more details, should contact Rosemary Webster, the district co-ordinator, on 07875 718082.

Anyone who would like a box which is already gift wrapped, should call Barbara Squires on 015395 35492.

The public can also visit the checking warehouse at Castle Mill, Aynam Road, Kendal, on weekdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm, from November 13 to 26.

The boxes are sent off from the warehouse at 2pm on Friday November 27.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk