PEOPLE in Wiltshire and Hampshire have given 47,800 shoeboxes full of presents to Operation Christmas Child.
Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian charity which runs the scheme, is sending the gifts to poor children in countries including Belarus, Liberia, Serbia, Ukraine, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
A spokesman for the charity said he wanted to thank all the donors.
“This has been a hard year for many people here, and we are just knocked out by the fact so many of them have put together a shoebox.
“When they arrive in the destination country the shoeboxes are distributed on the basis of need by local organisations, charities and churches to children aged between two and 14. Many are living in orphanages, street shelters, hospitals, and displaced persons’ camps.
“The joy that the shoeboxes bring lightens their lives, and the care and consideration that people here put into choosing their gifts shines through.”
Nationwide, the charity has collected 1.1million boxes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here