KIND-HEARTED north Cotswold people have been thanked for donating over 20,5000 gift-filled shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child.

The shoeboxes have come from communities throughout Gloucestershire, including Bourton, Stow and other parts of the north Cotswolds.

Teams of Operation Christmas Child volunteers at the charity’s processing centres in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Evesham, Lydney and Mitcheldean checked and loaded the shoeboxes for their journey to Bosnia, Crimea, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia and Swaziland.

The boxes, packed with toys, educational items, sweets and other small gifts, brought joy to children who are living in difficult conditions in orphanages, children’s homes, street shelters and hospitals, or perhaps with their family but in conditions of poverty.

Area Co-ordinator for Operation Christmas Child, Bob James, said: “People here have been brilliant. Times are quite tough for many, but they have still gone out of their way to pack a shoebox.

“The encouraging comments our volunteers get when collecting shoeboxes from schools, churches, businesses, at drop-off points and from people handing them in at the warehouse remind us there are many good, kind-hearted people out there.

“We see thoughtfulness from all ages and walks of life and it is very humbling. I wish each of these people could see the impact their shoeboxes have on the children who get them. It really makes a difference and brings joy and happiness to children who have very difficult lives.

“This is the 20th year of Operation Christmas Child and we continue to be bowled over by people’s kindness, so I would like to send a big ‘Thank you’ to all those who donated a shoebox and to all our volunteers and others who help make this happen.”