Operation Christmas Child volunteers held their final packing day | Photos

A total of 30 packers took the time out of their day to fill shoe boxes with gifts for children struggling in third world countries.

District coordinator Val Morris said they tried to find sale items leading up to packing days as it could be quite costly.

“We find bargains and try to collect things for the shoe box when it comes time to pack so it saves time and money,

“We find specials and save them up a long with the help of donations,” she said. 

Each shoe box is packed with six somethings; something to wear, something for school, something to play with, something for personal hygiene, something special and something to love.

Val also said it cost just ten dollars for a box to be covered and sent where it needed to go.

“It’s for a good cause and we try to track as many cartons as possible to see which country they’ve gone to,” she said.

 She also said there was a great turnout of volunteers and everyone’s effort was outstanding.

“We’ve got some really great packers here who are able to fit several items in the box nicely and also remove packaging for customs,” she said,

Val has been participating in Operation Christmas Child since it first began in Australia in 1995.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to share in God’s love and be resourceful in a practical way,

“It’s rewarding in the reality that it will be given to someone who really needs it,” she said.

She also said she hoped God would match each box to suit each child in need.

A record of 276 boxes were packed on the day and so far a total of 987 boxes were provided by the Lithgow District.

Information on how to pack your shoe box and how to donate can be found at samaritanspurse.org.au 

Shoe boxes may be dropped off to The Professionals Real Estate Lithgow, until October 30. 

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