LAST year, South East residents sent 906 shoe boxes filled with small gifts to children in third world countries.
For many of the young recipients, it was the first and only gift they would ever receive.
Operation Christmas Child South East coordinator Sally Romain hopes to build on that number and deliver more life changing gifts this year.
“People who might never visit these countries have an opportunity to change a child’s life,” Ms Romain said.
“For many of these children living in poverty it will be the first gift they have ever received and maybe the only one they will ever receive.”
Operation Christmas Child is a worldwide initiative which has collected and delivered more than 35 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 150 countries since 1993.
Ms Romain has coordinated the Christmas project in the South East since 2010, collecting shoe boxes from Kingston to Naracoorte from June to September each year.
“Around 21 churches and three schools across the South East are involved every year and every now and then we have a school or classroom join for one year,” Ms Romain said.
“The Mount Gambier Lioness club is involved this year too.
“It generally costs around $30 to fill a box and $10 for postage.”
Each shoe box can be packed with items selected from a checklist, including clothing, toys, school stationery, sporting equipment or personal hygiene items.
Most boxes contain a personal note from the sender.
“Watching videos of the children receiving their gifts and seeing the joy on their faces always brings me to tears,” Ms Romain said.
“Whenever I think the work is too much I watch the videos and I’m reminded how important this initiative is.”
All shoe boxes will be collected at Jubilee Christian Centre on September 15.
Contact Sally Romain on 0418 852 491 for more information on how to pack your own shoe box.
