Stoke Gifford residents join Christmas shoebox appeal

Residents of a UK retirement complex are putting together boxes of Christmas items for impoverished children in eastern Europe.

People living in Stoke Gifford retirement village in South Gloucestershire are planning to send more than 140 packages to the Shoebox Appeal, run by the charity Teams4u.

The boxes contain essentials like toothpaste and soap, but also toys.

Residents also donated more than £1,000 to fund the cost of shipping.

Bill Webb, who lives in the retirement village, said the number of residents wanting to take part had grown dramatically.

"A couple of us have been sending Christmas shoeboxes to destitute children and their families in Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and others for a number of years," he said.

"This year a few residents said they would like to join us, so we ordered a few extra boxes for them.

"More and more residents wanted to take part so we ordered another 25, but it soon became obvious this was not enough - so another 50 were ordered, but still there was more demand, so we ordered a further 50."

In the end more than 140 people decided to take part.

Resident Viv Warren said "Everybody has been so generous."

"There are three ranges of ages for the boxes. 3-5, 6-11 and then 12+.

"There's also what we call a 'home box', which is things like washing-up liquid, cloths, tea towels, and a little gift for the parents, like chocolate."

"The Knit and Natter group at the village has been making so many scarves, hats and teddies, that each of the boxes for the younger age groups has a little teddy in it."

In addition to items in the boxes, people have also been sending personal greeting notes to the children who will receive them.

Simon Cooke, eastern Europe project manager for Teams4u, told BBC West: "What we do wouldn't be possible without people like this group."

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