Christmas spirit is present in Worksop

Pupils from the Worksop Schools had filled shoe boxes with toys, gifts, sweets and other presents as part of Operation Christmas Child.

Those boxes will now be sent to underprivileged and impoverished children around the world.

A1 Housing arranged for Santa and his helpers to drop in and collect the presents, and also bumped the total number of shoe boxes to over the 140 mark – an improvement on last year’s total.

“We have been involved with Operation Christmas Child for a few years now,” said Sam Roberts, customer services manager for A1 Housing.

“Each year we are amazed by the generosity of the children who donate shoe boxes as well as our staff who help out.”

“We’d also like to thank Worksop Lions who kindly lent Father Christmas a Sleigh for the morning.”

Shoe boxes donated from the Worksop area are likely to be sent to countries including Belarus, Liberia, Ukraine, Serbia or Swaziland where children who would not normally receive a present will now have something to open on Christmas Day.

Jenny Green from Samaritan’s Purse, the organisation behind Operation Christmas Child added: “Thank you so much to all the children who have donated shoe boxes and A1 Housing for their help.”

“This is such an exciting campaign and incredible to think that every one of the gifts that have been handed over will bless a child somewhere and bring amazing joy to their lives.”

For information on how to get involved in Operation Christmas Child or to donate, visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk