OPERATION Christmas Child has launched its 2012 campaign to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for under-privileged children around the world.
The international Shoebox Appeal is run by Samaritan’s Purse, and last year saw 3,046 brightly wrapped shoeboxes from the island sent to Liberia, West Africa.
Area co-ordinator Marlene Akitt said: ‘The aim is to bring a little joy into the lives of these children who would normally receive very little, if anything at all, at Christmas. Shoeboxes are given based on need and circumstance, regardless of background, race or religion.’
Marlene said: ‘It is recognised that charities tend to suffer when the economic climate is depressed and the demand for the limited funds available grows. I appreciate that all of us have needed to economise recently, however, I appeal to everyone to support this project in whatever way you can.’
Donations of small toys, games, stationery, hats, scarves and toiletries, to make up a shoebox, are also welcome.
A Special Shoebox Steam Train runs on Tuesday from Port Erin where Father Christmas and volunteers will collect boxes as it steams through stations.
It is hoped schools in the south of the island, that are close to the stations, will once again bring their boxes to their station for collection
The train will leave Port Erin station at 1pm, stopping at Port St Mary (1.05pm), Colby (1.20pm), Castletown (1.35pm) and Ballasalla (2.30pm) and Santon (3pm).
Shoebox collection points are located at St Paul’s Bookshop, Ramsey; Laxey Health Centre; the Village Walk Health Centre, Onchan; Mantons Toy Store and Southern Group Practice, Port Erin; the Western Swimming Pool, Peel; the Family Library and Shoe Zone, Douglas.
The deadline is November 18.
Information leaflets are also available at these points.
For more information call Marlene Akitt on 834956/336881 or email {mailto:marlene@akitt.com|marlene(at)akitt.com}.
{http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk|operationchristmaschild.org.uk}.