Shoebox appeal is in full swing

A NATIONAL appeal that will spread Christmas joy to disadvantaged children across the world, has got under way in Frome.

Each Christmas, charity Operation Christmas Child is responsible for collecting and delivering thousands of shoeboxes to children across the globe, who would not otherwise receive any presents.

Frome Valley Cleaners has acted as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, that have been put together by the people of Frome for the past eight years. This year is no exception as they started to collect the first shoeboxes on Monday 5th of November.

“We will be collecting shoe boxes until the end of November. We normally take in around 300,” says Carol Short who has run Frome Valley Cleaners with her husband Jim for nearly 45 years. “For us, it is about spreading love to children in other countries, who may not have Christmas presents otherwise.”

The shoeboxes that are collected in Frome are sent to the regional depot in Melksham. From there, the gifts are loaded onto lorries and shipped overseas. This year, the shoeboxes will be sent to disadvantaged children in Liberia, Swaziland, Ukraine and Belarus.

Last year, the regional depot sent out over 34,000 shoeboxes to Belarus, Ukraine, Romania and Liberia.

A list of what to include in shoe boxes is available by visiting www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk