Grand Pier Urgent Plea to Help Children Less Fortunate This Christmas

THE Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare is asking the community to help spread festive cheer across the world by supporting Operation Christmas Child.

The iconic seaside attraction is backing the annual campaign run by Samaritan’s Purse for the first time and needs support.

Operation Christmas Child involves people donating gifts inside shoeboxes for children living abroad in orphanages, street shelters and hospitals.

Simply wrap a box with Christmas paper (lid wrapped separately) and fill with toys such as dolls, toy trucks, stuffed animals, balls, small puzzles, school supplies, scarves and gloves.

Label the box for a boy or girl, aged two to four years, five to nine years, and 10-14 years, add a note to the child and pay a £3 donation for shipping costs.

Boxes must be sealed with an elastic band and can be taken to The Grand Pier entrance and handed to a member of staff up until November 18, to be shipped to one of the destination countries ready for Christmas.

Paul Charalambous, Grand Pier General Manager, said: “Operation Christmas Child is a fantastic scheme which will bring a little festive joy to vulnerable children this Christmas.

“We are delighted to become a drop off point for the boxes and ask that the community get behind us in order for us to send as many boxes as possible.”

A full list of gift ideas can be found online at www.samaritans-purse.org.uk where the £3 donation can be made to receive a barcode to track where the parcel is sent.