Help bring festive cheer with a shoebox

OPERATION Christmas Child volunteers are accepting shoeboxes full of goodies until November.

The packages will then be gifted to underprivileged children across the world during the festive season, in areas which are war-torn, poverty stricken, or are recovering from natural disasters.

People can fill a shoebox appropriate for a boy or girl between the ages of two to four, five to nine, or 10 to 14.

Ballarat volunteer Samantha Milne said each box should include a health and hygiene product like soap or a toothbrush but not toothpaste, a toy, writing or drawing equipment, clothing, and something special, like a doll or small musical instrument.

“It’s also nice to put a letter in because sometimes you have the child return one, and you will know where the shoebox has gone,” she said.

“Fill a normal shoebox, or we have preprinted ones, and we will collect shoeboxes from individuals and groups until 4 November.

“They’ll be processed and go to the Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Ukraine.

“The more boxes we get, the more kids that will receive a gift and be supported around the world.”

Ms Milne said her family has been donating shoeboxes for 17 years, and she has been a volunteer for the last seven years.

“I’ve spoken to people who have come to Australia, who received shoeboxes in the past, and the affect one box can make on child, their family, and communities is amazing,” she said.

Full shoeboxes, or complete contents for a shoebox, can be given to Ms Milne by contacting her on 0407 353 740.

They should not be sealed, but closed with a rubber band and the boxes need to be donated with $12.50 to cover project costs.

Organisers say to not include playing cards, glass, battery-operated toys, or liquids.

Samaritan’s Purse has been leading Operation Christmas Child initiative for 30 years, and the 200 millionth package was gifted to a child in Ukraine last year.