ORGANISERS of Worcester’s Christmas shoebox appeal have praised people for their kind-hearted donations.

This year’s Operation Christmas Child project is now in its final stages and almost 4,500 gift-filled boxes have been received from people in and around Worcester.

Volunteers are busily sorting the boxes at the appeal’s warehouse on Shrub Hill Industrial Estate so they are ready to be loaded onto a lorry on Saturday.

The boxes will then be taken over to the Evesham appeal’s warehouse where a short service will take place on Sunday before they are distributed among thousands of the world’s poorest children.

On Friday, Novemeber 25, Worcester MP Robin Walker visited the appeal’s headquarters for a behind-the-scenes look at the project and to hand over his own shoebox.

Mr Walker described the operation as “very impressive” and said it highlighted the generosity of Worcester people. “So many people have put together these boxes and clearly a lot of volunteers are involved,” he said.

“The appeal is part of the spirit of Christmas around giving and thinking of those less fortunate.”

Mr Walker said it was not just individuals and groups who were involved as businesses are also backing the campaign – developers St Modwen had loaned the warehouse for the Worcester operation free of charge.

Area co-ordinator Brian Hatfield said he was delighted by the response to this year’s appeal. “We’d like to say a very big thank you to all people who donated and especially the people who gave their time to volunteer,” he said.

The warehouse has officially closed to public donations but anyone who does still have boxes to donate can call Mr Hatfield on 07815 813892.

Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children’s Christmas appeal with a heritage of 21 years.

Last year, nearly 1.12 million shoeboxes were sent to children in Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.