Over 200 shoeboxes were gathered in church on Sunday 17 November, before going out to children in poor countries in time for Christmas.

Once again St Columba’s members, supported by schools and the local community, has been able to brighten the lives of deprived children, through charity Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child.  As the charity says, “Since 1990, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoe box gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ.”  The boxes were filled with small gifts such as toys, colouring books, toiletries, hats, scarves and gloves.  For some, this may be the first Christmas present they have ever opened.