A relief charity is calling for donations across Greater Manchester for vulnerable children living in orphanages and refugee camps ‘who’ve never received a gift in their life’.
Samaritan’s Purse, a religious organisation dedicated to helping communities in need in 18 countries across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, have launched this year’s Operation Christmas Child in the hopes of surpassing their goal of reaching 100million needy children.
Last year, 100million Christmas shoeboxes were given out.
The initiative has been delivering presents for more than 23 years and are hoping to reach children in 156 countries.
Even in the midst of an economic crisis, Samaritan’s Purse received nearly one million shoeboxes last year in the UK alone.
Samaritan’s Purse Area Coordinator for Greater Manchester Martyn Catterall, said: “We’re so thankful that despite such challenging times people from a wide range of communities throughout Greater Manchester generously contributed gift-filled shoeboxes and helped us deliver our 100millionth shoebox last year.
“As international aid continues to be impacted by the global economic crisis, now more than ever the most vulnerable children around the world desperately need to know someone cares for them.”
This year the charity is asking individuals and organisations, such as churches, schools and workplaces to wrap and pack shoeboxes with gifts as well as organisations being open to setting up ‘drop off points’ for people to take their gift-filled shoeboxes to.
Operation Christmas Child are also providing decorative ‘GO’ boxes, for individuals finding it difficult to find shoeboxes, or even to be shared with their friends, families and work colleagues.
Samaritan’s Purse UK Executive Director Simon Barrington, said: “Reaching 100million is a wonderful outpouring of generosity up and down the country.
“Times are hard in the UK, many people are finding things tough, but there are children who live in the poorest of situations, in refugee camps, and in orphanages, who have nobody to care for them, who’ve never received a gift in their whole life. So we’re asking people to be generous once more.”
To find out how you can be part of this year’s Operation Christmas Child campaign, click here for instructions on how to complete a gift-filled shoebox in time for the November 18 deadline.
Picture courtesy of LaoWai Kevin via Flickr, with thanks.
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