Generous residents living in the Algarve took part in this year’s Operation Christmas Child, meaning many more children will have a happier Christmas this year.
The campaign encouraged people to fill shoeboxes with gifts for underprivileged children around the world. Some 1,130 boxes will initially be transported to the UK and from there will be sent to children, who may possibly have never received a gift before, in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa.
Operation Christmas Child also received some very generous cash donations.
Special thanks to Shoe World who supplied so many of the boxes and packing cartons, to Cristal Pools for the use of the warehouse and to Algarve Removals, who are transporting the boxes back to the UK for a nominal administration fee.
Organiser Gill Rhodes will be travelling with some of the boxes to Belarus. The former Russian state is still suffering serious problems from the Chernobyl explosion in 1986.
There are many disabilities and illnesses still being caused by the accident and Gill will be visiting some of the hospitals, orphanages and schools and will see the children’s faces as they receive their shoebox filled with gifts.
If you would like to know more about Operation Christmas Child, please visit the website www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk or email Gill Rhodes at [email protected]
