Operation Christmas Child, run by Samaritan's Purse, invites people to donate shoeboxes full of gifts, which will be given to children in 130 countries across the world in a global gift exchange.

The ExtraCare housing scheme residents had several sessions sorting through gifts and wrapping the boxes in brightly-coloured Christmas paper, as well as having a fundraising afternoon to buy items to include in the parcels, including toothbrushes, pencils, cuddly toys, notebooks and combs. The Sunley Court knitting group created over 100 knitted gifts, including hats, scarves, gloves, bags, purses and hand puppets.

After everything was complete at the scheme, activity Co-ordinator Gill Crosswell, along with volunteers Julia and Michael, drove the wrapped boxes over to a warehouse where they will be distributed across the world.

Gill said that everyone at Sunley recognised the importance of taking part in the project. "Gill Morrison from Operation Christmas Child came to Sunley to give us a talk on where the boxes go and how they make such a difference those who receive them. It has been a real team effort with many people donating gifts and definitely a very heartwarming exercise for everyone involved."

See more ExtraCare Christmas pictures on Flickr!

For further information, please contact:

Lucy Henson, PR officer
0789 105 3062
lucy.henson@extracare.org.uk