FAIRWATER residents are playing their part in Operation Christmas Child, a project which has collected gift-filled shoeboxes for more than 135 million children around the world since 1993.
About 27,000 boxes were put together in South Wales last year for the campaign organised by Samaritan’s Purse.
In National Collection Week, which this year is from November 14-21, donated shoeboxes can be left at drop-off points in the area.
Boxes can be handed in at any branches of The Shoe Zone or The Entertainer, while Fairwater Presbyterian Church will be accepting donations before 11am on November 27, known as Shoebox Sunday, when they will all be transported to the warehouse in Llantrisant.
The church’s congregation is once again involved in the project along with affiliated community groups such as the Youth Club, and the Mothers’ and Toddlers’ group.
Last year, the church helped collect more than 500 filled boxes.
Fairwater Rugby Club is also helping out with the project, having shared a post on social media for its followers to get involved.
Last year’s filled shoeboxes piled up at Fairwater Presbyterian Church.
Operation Christmas Child relies upon more than 500,000 volunteers worldwide.
Geoff Barrington, 76, has been helping the project since 1989 when he started as a volunteer in Wrexham.
As well as spreading the word about the project, he helps supervise the running of the warehouse every November.
Mr Barrington said: “This project changes the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children who receive gifts that bring them joy and the knowledge that there is someone who loves them.”
- For more information, see OCC South East Wales on Facebook or go to the Samaritan’s Purse website.
