Solicitors prepare festive boxes of joy (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Solicitors prepare festive boxes of joy

STAFF at a Wiltshire legal firm have shown their caring side by collecting for a national charity campaign.

Staff from Wood Awdry & Ford, which has offices in Fleming Way, Swindon; Chippenham and Marlborough, have held a collection for the national Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal run by Samaritan's Purse.

The charity urges people to fill a shoebox with items for youngsters for Christmas. The shoeboxes are then sent away to impoverished children all over the world.

Dot Timberlake, of the solicitors firm, invited her colleagues in the Chippenham, Marlborough and Swindon offices to fill a shoebox with gifts that would be useful to children at Christmas.

The resulting shoeboxes were filled with gifts including toothbrushes and toothpaste; notepads and pencils; hats, scarves and gloves and most importantly of all, toys.

Dot said: "We have been collecting for the Samaritan's Purse for the past few years, and the Shoebox Appeal always receives a good response.

The shoeboxes are filled with much-needed items and wrapped as presents for boys or girls, then distributed to developing countries, orphanages and hospitals, to children who would not otherwise receive any Christmas gifts at all.

"This year I am proud to say we have received 17 shoeboxes filled with coloured pencils, warm clothes, toiletries and toys. These shoeboxes will now bring so much pleasure to children around the world on Christmas Day."