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Give a Gift of Joy this<br />
C<br />
As I write this the school summer<br />
holidays are only just over<br />
and it seems very early to be<br />
thinking about Christmas. But<br />
as you read our magazine the<br />
autumn term will be well underway and<br />
we will be heading towards the half-term<br />
break.<br />
I am a volunteer with Operation<br />
Christmas Child, the charity which sends<br />
fun-filled shoeboxes to needy children<br />
around the world. We work with local<br />
churches and charities overseas to<br />
distribute the shoeboxes to those<br />
who need them, regardless of their<br />
background or beliefs asking<br />
nothing in return. The children<br />
may be in schools, hospitals,<br />
orphanages, homeless shelters<br />
or impoverished neighbourhoods.<br />
Like many other people,<br />
throughout the year I collect<br />
small toys, books, crayons, hair<br />
accessories, and toy cars to<br />
fill my shoeboxes which I have<br />
already wrapped in festive paper. I<br />
still need a hat, gloves and scarf to<br />
help combat the cold conditions the<br />
children will experience. A toothbrush,<br />
toothpaste, soap and a comb will also<br />
fit in. Lastly I will find room for a small<br />
cuddly toy as well as some sweets and<br />
a donation toward shipping costs (£3).<br />
More ideas can be found on the website<br />
– www.operationchristmaschild.org<br />
This seems like a list of simple<br />
things which we and our children take<br />
for granted but these shoeboxes will<br />
probably be the only Christmas gift the<br />
children will receive.<br />
The appeal is supported by individuals,<br />
families, schools, churches, businesses<br />
and other organisations throughout<br />
the UK and many other<br />
countries.<br />
My husband and I coordinate<br />
the collection of shoeboxes<br />
from schools, churches, and offices<br />
in Sheffield, Dronfield, Barnsley,<br />
Rotherham, Anston and Wakefield.<br />
These will be brought to a Sheffield<br />
warehouse which we still have to find,<br />
where they will be checked to make<br />
sure there are no unsuitable items<br />
included such as toy guns, fragile goods<br />
or clothing other than hats, gloves and<br />
scarves, then sealed with special tape<br />
for customs purposes and packed by<br />
age and gender into cardboard boxes<br />
ready for dispatch.<br />
During late November and December<br />
these will be loaded on to large lorries to<br />
begin their journey. From our area last<br />
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats<br />
Church Office: 9 Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA<br />
Tel: (0114) 274 5086<br />
Page 8<br />
email: office@stchads.org<br />
website: www.stchads.org
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