Boxes are stacking up for Operation Christmas Child (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Boxes are stacking up for Operation Christmas Child

AS THE deadline for dropping-off shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child comes to an end donations have continued to pour in.

Today (Thursday) heralded the final day for drop-off points to take collections, and groups and individuals from the Cotswolds and North Wiltshire have been busy making their contributions.

At Querns Westonbirt School pupils and staff have collected more than 50 boxes, amounting to at least one box on average from each child's family.

They heard of Operation Christmas Child when one of the charity's representatives gave a talk at the school at the end of October - just before half term.

Teacher Sue McLaughlin said: "We had a couple of boxes before half-term but the rest have been coming in steadily since then.

"I think the person from Operation Christmas Child was very inspiring."

At Paternoster School, in Cirencester, a total of less than 40 children aged between two and 16 have garnered over 40 boxes, equating to at least one per child.

They were given letters detailing the charity's aims before half term to allow them time to prepare boxes with their families.

Deputy head Vicky Ponsford said: "We have done it before. "Our children get a lot of help from people in the community and we like them to do something to help other people."

At Fosseway Housing Association the 130 staff at the organisations four offices in Moreton-in-March, Bourton-on the-Water and Cirencester have collected 31 boxes thanks to the co-ordinating efforts of Jo Vaughan.

At Kempsford Primary School, near Fairford, 130 pupils from about 80 families have collected 84 boxes.

The effort has broken the school's previous record of 76, set last year.

Head teacher Martin Ballard gave thanks to learning support worker Janet Singleton for her role in collecting the boxes.

He added: "It's now an annual feature in the school. Children love it and do respond very well.

"If you are eight-years-old and are packing for an eight year-old you really get a kick out of it."

Students from Malmesbury School got stuck in to help the appeal in nearby Sherston.

Around eight of the school's sixth-formers took boxes packed by their fellow pupils to the main depot in Sherston, and helped to sort the boxes ready for dispatch to needy children in Eastern Europe.

Malmesbury School teacher Sue Dolton said: "We had students right from Year 7 to Year 13 pack boxes for the appeal.

"We took about 130 boxes to the depot, and the sixth-formers stayed to help the volunteers, as the boxes must be checked before going out."

She added: "They loved helping - in fact they wanted to stay for longer but I had to give them a lift back."

The school hopes to deliver more boxes to the depot at the weekend, after leaflets were sent around all of the classes appealing for help.