This year Saint Mary's church are trying to raise enough money to send 100 shoe boxes full of gifts to some of the most deprived children across the world in assosiation with Operation Christmas Child. We are aiming to raise £600 and have so far raised £200 in tombolas, raffles and donations.

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) send shoe boxes filled with gifts to some of the poorest countries around the world. Christmas is a truly wonderful time of year where we celebrate this joyous day with gifts and food and festivities; for many children Christmas is yet another day of misery, starvation and a struggle to survive. We have a chance to change that, not only to bring joy for one day but to show children that love and hope can get to them from literally the other side of the world.

Receiving one of the boxes is not only exciting for these children but can also be life changing. In some of the countries, the children are not allowed to attend school unless they can bring their own supplies. Adding the simple gift of a notebook and pens to our boxes will give a child the gift of education, the chance of building a better future for themselves. For many children the gift of a toothbrush and soap will be the first opportunity they have ever had to think about their personal hygiene and cut down on the spread of germs and diseases that can prove fatal for many children. For some of the children living on the streets in harsh winter conditions, providing a pair of gloves can be the difference between making it through the winter with all of their fingers or losing some to frostbite. The gifts we can provide in these boxes can change lives.

So I'm hoping that we can send 100 shoe boxes to change 100 lives. In transporting and distributing the boxes and filling them full of gifts I estimate we need to raise £600 and with the continued efforts of the parish combined with this appeal we're hoping to reach our total.

Your help can truly change a young child's life and if that isn't the true meaning of Christmas, I don't know what is.

Thank you for your time and I hope you can help.

If you would like to send your own shoe box or find out more information about OCC please click Operation Christmas Child Website . Or if you'd like to help out with the appeal in our church please check the church's facebook page for updates and information on wrapping and filling the boxes. Saint Mary's Facebook