BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

31/12/2007

Charity thanks generous city

GENEROUS people in Edinburgh and the Lothians helped fill more than 10,000 shoeboxes with Christmas presents for children in Belarus.

The charity Samaritan's Purse International has been distributing the boxes of toys, books and warm clothes to orphans and street children.

Organisers believe they have broken their record for this year's Operation Christmas Child.

Edinburgh area co-ordinator June Vasey, who visited Belarus this year, said the boxes made a huge difference.

She said: "Whilst working there I met many of the children who will receive your gifts. One family in particular living in a single-roomed house had nothing - no furniture and no beds, let alone toys. For the children living there one toy alone would become a treasured possession."

Source:

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Charity-thanks-generous-city.3629494.jp