Recycled items made in to gifts for disadvantaged children across the world – Operation Christmas Child

Oct 26 2011 by Linda Foo Guest, Heswall News

A WIRRAL woman who started a group to make items for Operation Christmas Child now has 106 shoe boxes full of gifts packed and ready to go.

Barbara Higson felt inspired to start the group after attending a meeting organised by Samaritan's Purse, who run Operation Christmas Child.

The charity send gift-filled shoeboxes to disadvantaged children across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, that would otherwise not get a present at Christmas.

Barbara is well known for her joy in re-cycling and put out an appeal for CD’s – to be made into mobiles, wool, material, broken beads, buttons, along with used birthday and Christmas cards.

The response was overwhelming and a weekly group of 22 volunteers worked at recycling the materials into pencil cases, bags, hats, scarves and mitts.

A shoebox packing party was held and the goods were transported to St Stephens Parish Hall, Prenton.

Barbara said: “ I am delighted at our success but also by the fun and laughter we had while we worked.

“The cards were used to front notebooks and beads were made into elastic bracelets and hair bobbles.

“The group also raised £265 to transport the boxes.

“It was a lot of hard work but I went to bed on party night thinking of 106 happy faces.”