Boxing clever for kids in poverty

BIG-HEARTED Harthill youngsters have been busy making sure that less fortunate children get a gift this Christmas.

The pupils at Harthill Primary School have spent the last few weeks organising shoe boxes filled with gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

Every year children in years three and four take responsibility for the appeal to help make Christmas a little brighter for children trapped in poverty.

“They clipped a letter to parents about the boxes in the school newsletter and make sure everyone knows about it,” said year three teacher Jan Skepper.

“They also kept a tally of all the boxes that have been brought into the school.”

And the hard work has paid off as the school collected 149 shoe boxes brimming with gifts - more than ever before.

“I think we collected about 124 boxes this year, so we’ve done even better this time. I think it’s probably the best we’ve ever done,” said Mrs Skepper.

People were bringing in full boxes and some of them were full to bursting, with gifts spilling out.”

“We collected boxes from the over 60s, local churches and local people as well as parents.”

“The boxes were collected on Monday and will be going to children who need them in Belarus.”

Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project, run by Samaritan’s Purse.

The charity has been sending gift-filled shoe boxes around the world since 1990, bringing joy into the lives of over 80 million underprivileged children across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Last year, over 500,000 people from across the UK and Ireland got involved. Children and adults wrapped and packed over one million shoe boxes full of gifts and goodies that were then sent to the children who need them most.

“Right at the start we showed them a DVD from Operation Christmas Child so they could the effect that the shoe boxes have on children around the world,” added Mrs Skepper.

“It’s great that the same year group are involved every year, as everyone gets a chance to experience it as they go through the school.”

She thanked everyone in the Harthill community who had donated a shoe box to the school’s appeal.

To find out more or get involved with next year’s appeal, visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk.

Related topics: