THE call has gone out to kind-hearted Worcestershire and Gloucestershire folk to get their shoe boxes ready for Operation Christmas Child.

The charity, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, wants all donations in by November 11. Area co-ordinator, Bob James said: “When the first gift filled shoeboxes were delivered in 1990 to children living in terrible conditions in Romanian orphanages no-one thought the campaign would still be going 20 years on.

“However, it really caught people’s imagination and the campaign has grown to help vulnerable children in a wide range of countries. Sadly many tens of thousands of children are living in very challenging situations today and the kindness of those who donate a gift filled shoebox is every bit as important now as it was in 1990.”

He explained: “Operation Christmas Child is an initiative of Samaritan’s Purse - a Christian relief and development organisation, and because Christmas is a special time to help a child, we want to send as many shoeboxes as we can to help mark the 20th anniversary.”

Anyone wishing to take part in this year’s campaign should visit operationchristmaschild.org.uk or call 0870 011 2002.