HUDDERSFIELD volunteers are working hard to make sure their
Operation Christmas Child is a success. A team of 200 volunteers have been busy organising and preparing
boxes for dispatch to Belarus. However, first they need more toys and goodies to fill the boxes.
Gifts needed include are sweets, toothpaste and toothbrushes,
knitted hats, gloves and scarves, small toys and stationary. Locals will be able to drop off items at the collection HQ at St
James Church, Meltham Mills, from November 6. Collection times are Monday to Friday, 12pm-8pm, and Saturday
9am-12pm. Other collection points include Huddersfield Methodist Mission,
Christian Bookshop, Byram Street, Crossroads Centre, Meltham and Yeomans Outdoors shops. Last year Samaritan's Purse, which runs the project, sent out over
1.18 million gifts to children across Eastern Europe and Africa. Big-hearted Huddersfield people filled 13,000 shoeboxes for needy
children in Belarus. District co-ordinator of Operation Christmas Child, Judith Powell,
said: "I think people will be wonderful with their donations this year. "Operation Christmas Child is a lovely community effort, and it
brings together people from all sectors of the community."
