VOLUNTEERS, with the help of firefighters from Westbourne fire station and staff at the Westbourne Safe Store, loaded a lorry with more than 10,000 gift filled shoeboxes destined for Latvia in December.

For many weeks, kind-hearted residents from across Dorset have been donating boxes filled with gifts for deprived youngsters who would otherwise wake up on Christmas Day to nothing.

Operation Christmas Child is run by the Samaritan’s Purse and has been sending shoeboxes of goodies to youngsters living in poor countries since 1990.

A processing centre was set up at St. John’s Church, Branksome - with the blessing of the vicar - and church members have been using every inch of the church to make the campaign work from the building.

The Bournemouth leadership team express their thanks to everyone who got involved.

Lisa and Andrew Browning, processing Centre administrators, said: “This is such a wonderful campaign which is why the faithful volunteers, old and new, of every age from groups of Beavers to the retired, came day after day, giving up their valuable time before Christmas

“ A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal.A massive thank you to everyone involved - watch this space for details of our 2018 campaign.”