This article is from page 15 of the 2005-10-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
A CLARE group is currently looking for a warehouse to store thousands of Christmas presents donated to less well off children overseas.
The local Operation Christmas Child campaign is appealing for anyone with an unused warehouse to come forward.
Almost 6,000 children in Eastern Eu- rope and Mozambique received Christmas presents last year from Clare people of all none
Approximately 5,700 of the 273,143 Christmas shoeboxes sent from Ireland to developing countries as part of Operation Christmas Child came from the Banner County.
“We receive shoe boxes from créches up to youth clubs, schools and Regina House
Kilrush to Carrigoran,’ said June O’Neill, who assists in co-ordinating the operation locally.
Operation Christmas Child began in Wales in the early 1990s when people be- gan sending shoeboxes filled with gifts and toys to orphanages in Romania. Since then, the projects, which is run by the Samaritan Purse Charity, has gone from strength-to- strength.
The shoebox appeal reached Clare in 2001, when 1,000 people sent gifts to children liv- ing in poverty throughout the world.
By 2004, the number had multiplied al- most six times, as the people of Clare re- cycled good quality, almost-new toys and bought out discount stores so that children across the world could have a present at Steinke
This year, people have until November 10
to find a shoebox, cover it with Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for children living in impoverished conditions.
Ms O’Neill recommends that anyone who cannot decide which of the six age groups to choose for a gift, to choose boys in the ten to 14 category who are often forgotten.
Participants are also reminded to consult the Operation Christmas Child leaflet when packing, as some items such as toy guns and liquid products such as bubbles are banned from the boxes.
A charge of €3 is also required to cover the transportation of the boxes. People can then drop off their gifts at the AXA offices in Ennis or Moyasta National School.
People looking for a leaflet for their boxes or further information can contact June on O86 1981591 or Margaret 6843075 or check the website www.samaritanspurse.ie.