Barratt Homes is again supporting a campaign to encourage people to fill shoeboxes with gifts for deprived children.

The housebuilder for the new development at Richmond Park, Whitfield, is supporting the Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox initiative.

It is providing its sales and marketing suite as a drop-off point for donations. People can bring their filled boxes from next Monday until November 22.

The campaign sees local communities pack shoeboxes with gifts for children all across the world. The boxes are donated, processed and shipped to vulnerable children between two and 14 years old with contents including toys, puzzles and school supplies.

The charity has helped spread festive cheer to more than 178 million children in more than 150 countries since the campaign began in 1990.

Nick Cole, director of Operation Christmas Child UK,said: “Last year despite the pandemic, our supporters in the UK and worldwide combined with partners overseas to deliver more than 9 million shoeboxes.

“We would like to thank the many schools, businesses and individuals who have contributed already, and we now look forward to collecting these gifts and delivering them quickly.”

Natalie Perry, sales and marketing director for Barratt Kent, added: “Covid-19 has put a great strain on families’ finances both locally and abroad, and this campaign is committed to supporting children who have been affected by poverty."

Anyone who would like to drop off a shoebox at Richmond Park needs to:

Select the gender and age group of their beneficiary, which is two to four, five to nine, or 10-14 and download and attach the label to the top of your shoebox.

Fill the box with gifts such stuffed animals or toys, school supplies, hygiene items or clothing.

Due to import regulations donors cannot give food, lotions, liquids and toothpaste, nor can they include religious or political literature, medicines and aerosol cans.

Donate £5 for costs such as collection, processing, shipping, inspection and distribution.

Print off a barcode, given once a donation is made and place in the shoe.

Wrap the box in festive paper and put a rubber band around it before dropping it off to the sales and marketing suite, at Richmond Way, which is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00am to 5.30pm.

For further details visit samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child

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