This year our shoe boxes of Christmas presents for very poor children are being transported by Samaritan’s Purse over to East Belarus. This area was badly affected by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, when winds carried radioactive material over Russia’s western border. Local water is still highly contaminated and many children have physical disabilities. Life in general is hard: many families live in very cramped conditions with meagre possessions. Winters are very cold.
Last year charity representatives visited several of the local orphanages and hospitals to distribute shoe boxes, but there were so many children that only the most needy received one.
This year Samaritan’s Purse have given us the chance to buy – as a church – lots of flat-packed boxes which make up into ‘shoe boxes’ to fill, as usual. With the help of a generous donation, I have ordered 200! So either people can cover their own box – or buy a flat-pack one for 32p.
There will be a box of leaflets with more information at the back of church, and ideas of useful and fun items to include in your box.
The Vicar will bless the boxes at the 10.30 Service on Sunday, 17th November.
Please do be in touch with any enquiries and/or visit the Samaritan’s Purse website – where you can see photos of their new boxes, under their ‘Resources’ heading.