Gorleston pupils pack shoeboxes with Christmas gifts

Pupils from St Mary and St Peter Catholic Primary School in Gorleston have been filling shoeboxes packed with gifts as part of Operation Christmas Child.

The initiative started after Mark and Debra Watkins, Church Relations and Community Relations team members with Operation Christmas Child, visited St Peter’s church Faith Club back in September.

School governor and parent Matt then asked if the school could take part and Mark and Debra dropped off enough shoeboxes for two for each class, inviting children to bring in items.

Mark said: “So many benefits come from this ministry. The obvious one is the sending of gifts to children with little or nothing, to give them hope, learn about Jesus by an invitation to a 12-week children’s programme run by their local church. From the outset of this ministry anyone who cares for children can see how this can be used to teach giving and compassion.

“All the year groups in the school took part and it was evident in talking to Sue, school secretary, that great joy was had in filing shoeboxes by both children and adults.”

Debra said: “We are most grateful to the school in reaching out to seek to help others, when the school will be so busy, thank you, the shoeboxes from you will make a child smile.”

St George’s Parish in Norwich, where Mark is a parishioner, has also taken part in the initiative.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts—filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys—to children worldwide for three decades. Since 1990, the project has collected and delivered more than 200 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

They have been calling on churches; schools and families in the Norfolk area to pack more shoebox gifts than ever before for the Samaritan’s Purse project, which is committed to its mission of reaching millions of children across the globe with the Gospel. 

Those interested in more information on Operation Christmas Child for your church, school, group or business can contact Mark and Debra Watkins at markdebrawatkinsocc@yahoo.com 
 
Visit: www.samaritans-purse.org.uk

Pictured above are children at St Mary and St Peter’s primary school with some of the shoeboxes they packed.

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