Gifts for underprivileged children all over the world will be collected by volulnteers in Hornchurch.
On November 3 the gifts will be handed in at the Hornchurch Baptist Church, North Street, as part of the Operation Christmas Child appeal run by the Samaritan’s Purse relief organisation.
Hornchurch Life blogger Andy Wilkin is involved in the collection.
He has written online about how his wife saw first-hand how the goods from Christmas shoebox appeals are used on a visit to Kosovo.
He said: “Where the children used to write in notebooks and then rub them out, thanks to the shoeboxes they have new notebooks.
“The children use everything in the shoeboxes including the boxes themselves which they use to store their clothes.
“Currently we have enough people to help, but we need the items. If you want to pack a shoebox I suggest you do one at home and bring it in.”
There are strict guidelines on what to include in the boxes, but toys and educational supplies are both acceptable.
For more information visit www.hornchurchlife.co.uk/2012/10/shoebox-appeal.html or email hornchurchlife@gmail.com.
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