THE GENEROSITY of people across the borough has seen nearly 3,000 shoeboxes filled with much-needed items for an important charity.

Members of the public, churches, schools, businesses and community organisations in Snaresbrook, South Woodford, Wanstead, and Woodford Green all donated shoeboxes full of present for the annual Operation Christmas Child appeal.

Across the whole of Redbridge 2,900 shoeboxes were filled. The donations were checked by volunteers at the sorting centre in Woodford Green before being shipped off to children in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Liberia, Romania and Serbia.

The charity's regional manager Gordon McCann said: “On behalf of Operation Christmas Child and all our volunteers, I just want to send a huge ‘thank you’ to every single person who donated a shoebox this year.

“It has such a positive effect on the child that receives it and I want everyone here to know that their gifts make a real difference.”

“When they arrive in the destination country the shoeboxes are distributed on the basis of need by local organisations, charities and churches to children aged between 2 and 14, many living in orphanages, street shelters, hospitals, displaced persons camps or whose families are facing hardship due to poverty.

“The joy that the shoeboxes bring lightens their lives, and the care and consideration that people here put into choosing their gifts shines through in the personal touches and in the items they send.”

For more information on the appeal, visit the website of organisers Samaritan's Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org.