BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/12/2007

Bringing cheer to the kids of Belarus

By ANNA SMITH

IT'LL be a bumper Christmas in Belarus as thousands of gifts from Castle Morpeth are dispatched.

Almost 8,000 packed shoe boxes are on their way to the Eastern European country to spread festive cheer to orphans and children living in poverty.

The initiative is part of the annual Operation Christmas Child appeal by the Samaritan's Purse and Northumberland has once more come up trumps.

Co-ordinator Bob Shotton said: "All of the shoeboxes have been packed and boxed and sent to Belarus.

"I would like to thank everybody who took part - the schools, churches, all the other organisations and individuals who supplied the shoe boxes.

"What was really notable this year was the quality of the boxes. They were exceptional. They didn't need a lot of sorting and everything that was needed was there. It made life for us a lot easier and as for the kids at the other end, they are really getting a good box."

A total of 7,791 boxes were collected from the mid-Northumberland area, as well as ?13,378 in cash that will go towards administration and transport costs.

The presents were put together at the former Kramel First School in Cramlington, which was donated by Northumberland County Council for the whole of November to support the scheme.

"We are very grateful to Northumberland County Council and of course we must thank all of the people who came to the school and helped with the sorting out of the boxes and the packing," said Mr Shotton.

"There was about 20 people there every day for the whole month. It was quite a commitment for them to come along. It is quite surprising the number of people who will do that for a good cause."

Groups in Morpeth joining in the gift-giving included Newminster Middle School, Pegswood First School and Lynemouth First School, which filled 760 boxes in conjunction with the community.

A spokeswoman for Lynemouth First School said: "Many thanks to all who have supported our 'love in a box' effort in any way over the last seven years during which time we have sent off approximately 4,000 boxes from Lynemouth."

Local businesses were also keen to do their bit and the Leeds Building Society branch in Bridge Street, Morpeth, acted as a drop-off point for the gifts.

Manager Sally Hayward said: "We have collected over 100 boxes in the branch so I would like to say thank you to everybody who has brought them in for charity. It has been phenomenal this year."

Work is now under way to organise next year's collection, with some donors already knitting hats, scarves and pencil cases to put in the parcels.

Source:

http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/news/Bringing-cheer-to-the-kids.3560100.jp