Boxes bring cheer to less privileged

John Paul College students have been stuffing shoe boxes full of goodies to send as Christmas presents for under-privileged children.

International Christian organisation Samaritan's Purse has for decades run Operation Christmas Child which sees the shoeboxes delivered as Christmas presents to children in third-world countries.

A teacher at the school, Karen Bloomfield, and her husband, Stephen, have been involved with the cause since moving to New Zealand in 2005.

Mrs Bloomfield said that for the past five years the John Paul College community had started getting behind the cause as well.

She said this year, because of tough economic times, they had set a goal of filling 50 boxes, even though they received more than that last year.

"We have already filled over 50 boxes and have enough items for at least another 10 or 15 boxes.

"Advertising through the school newsletter has helped the JPC community to focus on this worthy cause."

She said they had an amazing range of gifts donated through the school, including soft toys, skipping ropes, toy cars, clothes, Jandals, jewellery, hair ties and toiletries. Some families had even donated money to help send the boxes.

She said students had been giving up their lunchtimes to help sort and fill the boxes to be dropped off at Living Well Church.