The non-profit, Christian organisation provides emergency relief and development assistance to suffering people worldwide.

Their biggest project, Operation Christmas Child, puts smiles on the faces of thousands of children living in poverty every year with gift-filled shoeboxes packed by people throughout Australia and New Zealand.

In 2017, Operation Christmas Child shipped 327,451 shoeboxes to children in seven different countries and for most of them, this would have been the first time they had ever received a gift.

People can fill shoeboxes with gifts for boys or girls aged between two and four, five and nine, or 10 and 14.

At least one item from six categories of gifts should go into a shoebox – an item for hygiene, something for school, something to wear, something to play with, something to love, and something special. 

The box should be comfortably full and a donation of $10 per box is required for delivery. There are some items that are not permitted.

Brochures and preprinted shoeboxes, for a cost of 50 cents, are available in Ararat from Peter Fleming on 0438 381 943 or in Stawell from Wendy Collins on 0488 110684. Shoeboxes need to be returned by early October.

For more information, contact area co-ordinator Ann Rohde on 5381 2180 or 0467 239493 or visit operationchristmaschild.org.au