Christmas shoebox gifts 'bring joy to places where many may feel forgotten'
| Published date | 21 December 2020 |
| Date | 21 December 2020 |
Waiting for her – and the gathered crowd of other local children – was a lorry full of special festive shoeboxes packed with presents that someone living thousands of miles away had chosen.
The 28-year-old, of Farnborough, Hampshire, who is now studying for a Masters’ degree in International Development, said: “I believe these boxes, for many children, are vessels of hope.
“They bring joy to places where many may feel forgotten. They give an opportunity for children to feel significant and loved, and an opportunity to learn about selfless generosity.”
Two decades on, Ann-Marie still recalls going along to her local church with some children from her neighbourhood one morning.
When she arrived, several other youngsters from local schools and churches had already begun to gather – and everyone who turned up was given a special shoebox.
The surprise had been organised by international relief charity Samaritan’s Purse, whose annual scheme, Operation Christmas Child, ensures children in need from around the world receive festive gifts.
Giving each box the personal touch is the fact that every single one has been packed by hand, with presents chosen by kind individual gift givers.
“I was trying to be very well behaved to make sure I didn’t ruin my chances of going home with one of the gifts,” recalled Ann-Marie.
“I waited patiently for my turn and got a big box labelled with my gender and age range.
“I don’t remember much about my box itself, but I do remember there was a baby doll inside which you could feed, and which came with nappies.”
From there, the years passed and Ann-Marie moved to the UK in 2006 aged 13 – but she never forgot how “special” her Christmas box had made her feel.
But coincidentally, she did not go looking for the charity that had helped her.
Instead, two years ago, it found her.
“I sat next to someone on a flight from Nairobi in Kenya to London, who worked for the American division Samaritan’s Purse,” she said.
“We got talking and he explained what his organisation did and invited me to volunteer with them, so I told him when I was a little girl, I’d once had one of those boxes myself.
“Both of us just marvelled at what a small world we live in.”
Back home in the UK a few weeks later Ann-Marie tracked down Samaritan’s Purse...
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