THE kindhearted people of Essex are sending a little love over to children in developing countries this year as part of Operation Christmas Child.
More than 22,000 shoe boxes filled with everything from cuddly toys to pencil sets and exercise books are being sent from a warehouse in Chelmsford to orphanages, refugee camps and impoverished neighbourhoods in Romania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, among others.
Operation Christmas Child, which is organised by the Christian charity Samaritan's Purse, has had donations from schools, churches, and local businesses, as well as individuals.
"These boxes will go out to orphanages, schools and villages to children who need a bit of love. It's love in a box, and the logo is a shoebox with wings on it," explained Chris Giffin, the Operation Christmas Child area co-ordinator for Essex.
"We actually went over to one of the places we send the boxes, Kurdistan, in March. Kids there can't go to school unless they provide their own notebooks and pens, so we always include those. And the most important thing we include is a cuddly toy for everyone.
"People have said 'well, what does a 16-year-old want with a cuddly toy'? because kids of all ages get the boxes. But I say to them 'If you're living in Iraq and you've just seen your parents killed and your home destroyed, why would you not want a cuddly toy'?"
The Essex effort joins others all over the world, where boxes are collected and sent to those in need. The box appeal has been running since 1990, and initially boxes were delivered mainly to Romania during the humanitarian crisis there, although they have since branched out to include destinations all over the world.
"When we were in Kurdistan, to see the look on a child's face when they got a box, to say it bought tears to my eyes is an understatement," said Mr Giffin.
"The charity has taken more than 100 million boxes to children across the world since it started, and we have met adults who have moved to the UK but got a box in another country when they were children – we have had people who have kept things from the box for all those years, that's how much it meant."
The appeal has touched many people, with MP Simon Burns and the mayor and mayoress of Chelmsford visiting the warehouse in Lone Barn Link, behind the Aldi distribution centre, to see the efforts made.
Carol Swallow from Regus in Victoria Road, Chelmsford, said: "We're thrilled that our local network of Regus centres could help such a worthwhile cause by being collection points again.
"We would like to thank all the local businesses, schools, groups and individuals who brought in shoeboxes and made it a great success."
