OPERATION Christmas Child, the appeal which sends shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts to children across the world thanks to the generosity of Wiltshire people, is on the hunt for a storage warehouse to make this year's appeal a success.

Steve Lloyd, area coordinator for OCC, said: “I cover the whole of Wiltshire, this year we are expecting to check and process 50,000 filled shoe boxes for export.

“The campaign will start in November, but at the moment I do not have a warehouse to check boxes from surrounding areas. I would need space of about 3,000 square feet in order to sort the boxes. I would like to pay the minimum cost or really would love if someone could donate the space for free. The warehouse would need to be dry and secure and also I would need access to get an articulated lorry close for loading. I could also work with two or three smaller warehouses if this was on offer.

“I am hugely excited about this year’s campaign and even more excited to think that many thousands of children will receive a Christmas present.

“If anyone would like to help the checking process then please get in contact. The project is a real community project. Perhaps your place of work could help or would give up some time to allow their staff to help. Perhaps if you run a local scout or guide group you may be interested in helping?

“In an ideal world we would like a storage space in Westbury, as I live there and most of my volunteers are based around there, but time is running out. The collection point cut off will be on the third weekend of November, this gives us time to sort out all of the donations and send them off in time.”

As usual there will be a network of collection points for the OCC shoe boxes across Wiltshire, with a list of places and ideas for things to put in the boxes printed over the next couple of weeks. The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald and The Wiltshire Times will once again be supporting the cause and our office at 15 Duke Street, Trowbridge, will be a collection point for the shoe boxes.

If you can help OCC find a new home this year, or would like to help sort boxes, contact Mr Lloyd on 07715 843872 or email him at stevelloydie@blueyonder.co.uk