MEMBERS of staff from Somerset Care in Melksham have been working hard to put together a selection of shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

The care provider, which has its base in the Challymead Business Park in Bradford Road, decided to take part in this year’s appeal after its business manager Jenny Futcher saw the Wiltshire Time’s adverts about the collection drive.

Mrs Futcher said: “This is an amazing appeal to get involved in, and we are fortunate to be able to give and receive so many gifts over Christmas. To think of children who may not get anything at all in heart-breaking. We hope that our gifts make some children very happy on Christmas morning.”

The team filled 14 boxes with gifts and treats to send to the underprivileged children across the world. Members of the Wiltshire team of Somerset Care made their way to Melksham Town Hall on Thursday (November 17) to drop off the labours of their collection.

“This is our Wiltshire team’s first year supporting this cause, I spotted the appeal in the Wiltshire Times and was keen to get involved. They are hoping to build on this yearly and get more staff involved each time,” added Mrs Futcher.

The Operation Christmas Child collection in Wiltshire, which officially ended on Friday (November 18), has seen over 20,000 boxes in previous years being sent across the globe. Last year Steve Lloyd, the area co-ordinator for Wiltshire, and his team collected and sorted 33,000 boxes from their former base in Trowbridge.