Over 4,000 Christmas shoe boxes, packed full of gifts, have been collected from Keswick’s Rawnsley Hall to give to children in Bosnia.
An army of volunteers gathered to pack a delivery van with 4,296 shoe boxes for The Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Child appeal.
Over the past few weeks, generous families, children, schools and churches all over Cumbria packed thousands of shoe boxes for this appeal with essentials such as hats and gloves as well as small toys and other gifts.
Volunteers from Keswick and surrounding areas have worked in the Rawnsley Hall to prepare the shoe boxes for their journey to Bosnia. George Tsintas, regional co-ordinator of Operation Christmas Child, said: “This is exactly what a Christian activity should be: It’s going to a Muslim country so the children there will feel the love of Christ.; it’s as much a Christian activity for the community as it is for the children receiving the gifts. It’s a complicated operation but with a very simple aim.
“Thank you to everyone who has got involved,” he added.
David Sawday, Chief Operating Officer for Keswick Ministries, said: “This is a wonderful cause which underlines the Christian message of hope, especially during this Christmas season. We are thrilled that we have been able to contribute by making the Rawnsley Hall available for packing the boxes.”