SHOEBOXES full of presents and seasonal messages to underprivileged children throughout the world have begun to arrive at the offices of the Gazette & Herald.

The newspaper is acting as a dropping-off point for boxes completed as part of Operation Christmas Child, a long-running campaign organised by the Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse.

Leaflets describing how to pack the shoeboxes and what to put inside are available from our offices in Devizes and Chippenham.

Ursula McKinnon, the co-ordinator of Operation Christmas Child in Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey, is organising a packing day at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Long Street, Devizes, to take place on Saturday from 9am.

It is run like a military operation in which stationery, toiletries, toys and knitted items are laid out on tables around the room and shoeboxes are passed along to be filled with different items.

Each box has to be accompanied by a £2.50 donation to cover transportation to countries such as Croatia, Romania and Ukraine.

Mrs McKinnon said: “People are welcome to come along with completed shoeboxes, lend a hand packing or stand and watch what’s going on. Refreshments will be provided. Also, if anyone would be prepared to come along at 4.30pm on Friday to help set up, we would love to see them.”

Completed shoeboxes can be dropped off at the Gazette offices in Market Place, Devizes, Monday to Thursday, from 9.30am to 3.30pm, until November 17.

Mrs McKinnon can be contacted on (01380) 726746.