A CHRISTIAN charity has thanked Redbridge residents for donating around 3,800 gift-filled shoeboxes for needy children this Christmas.

Operation Christmas Child, now in its 20th anniversary year, collected the boxes from across the borough and is now preparing to ship them off to Belarus, Liberia and Romania from its Woodford Green base.

The shoeboxes, packed with toys, educational items, sweets and other small gifts, will go to those in orphanages, children's homes, street shelters, hospitals, and families living in poverty.

Regional Manager for Operation Christmas Child, Gordon McCann, said: “People here have been brilliant. Times are quite tough for many, but they have still gone out of their way to pack a shoebox.

"The encouraging comments our volunteers get when collecting shoeboxes from schools, churches, businesses, at drop-off points and from people handing them in at the warehouse remind us there are many good, kind-hearted people out there.

“I wish each of these people could see the impact their shoeboxes have on the children who get them. It really makes a difference and brings joy and happiness to children who have very difficult lives."

Donations can still be made online by visiting www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/shoeboxworld