Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child
Shoeboxes at Halmer End Methodist Church

It was all go again week end commencing 12 November 2016. Tables were filled with shoebox items generously donated by friends and members of Halmer End Methodist Church and staff from the Beth Johnson Foundation in Hartshill.

So began the work of filling the shoeboxes with a team of nine people, Ann, Anne, Andrea, Dan, Emily, Janet, Mary, Phil and Zoe. Just look at the supplies assembled on the tables and in boxes all ready for the 'picking' operation – selecting the contents for each box. There were boxes for boys and girls across three age ranges 2 to 4; 5 to 9; 10 to 14. Each age range requiring different contents in the box. Much time was spent beforehand preparing many of the items for the tables.

It was a wonderful day and very rewarding. We never fail to be amazed and humbled by people's generosity and we always aim to fill as many boxes as we possibly can, which is dependent upon the amount of stock we acquire and accumulate during the year – and yes we have started collecting for 2017 already.

The shoeboxes were moved into the Chapel for the service on the 20th November which included a prayer of blessing for the boxes. The children who will receive the boxes were also remembered in prayer.

The shoeboxes have now been transported to the collection depot based in Burton-upon-Trent. The cartons of shoeboxes are usually picked up by empty foreign transport lorries after their loads have been delivered in the UK. The drivers of these lorries are given a hamper of goodies to take home with them for their families which is a gesture the Burton team have made as a thank you for a few years now.

The team at Burton are dedicated and passionate about this cause. A couple of them have actually taken part in the delivery process in previous years, so they have first-hand experience of the excitement and thrill for the children when they receive their boxes.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in any way with our 2016 Shoeboxes – 255 have been sent to needy children. See Samaritan's Purse for more details about Operation Christmas Child.