MORE than 300 shoebox care-packages will be sent to Romania for the 26th year running.

Barbara Jones, a member of Our Lady and Saint Patrick’s Church mobilised local schools and churches to help the cause.

This time it was school children from Maryport, Harrington and Whitehaven that put the packages together.

The schools involved were: St. Gregory’s and St. Joseph’s in Workington; Our Lady and St. Patrick’s in Maryport as well as St. Mary’s of Harrington.

Three local churches also took part in the annual event.

“It only started off as family and friends” but since then it has evolved into a ‘mammoth task’, said organiser Barbara Jones.

This year the appeal have put together 325 packages, ready to be shipped off to Romania this week.

The haul had to be stored in a unit at Fairways Nursing Home in Lillyhall as the project has expanded to the point where they cannot store the gifts at home.

Convoy Aid Romania pick up the parcels. The organisation have been running for twenty one years.

They aim to bring Christmas gifts and living essentials to children who may have otherwise gone without.

Jones added that the project is vital as the people of Romania are ‘poverty stricken’, with some living without adequate food and shelter.

Leaflets are sent to participating schools and churches, advising them on what to include.

The shoeboxes are usually packaged with toys, sweets and games for the children and essential toiletries for young girls.

Some form of personal touch such as photographs, written letters and artwork are included.

The packages can be tailored towards the receiver as they are labelled with the intended age group.

“Our vision is to see transformation - of both individual lives and whole communities,” Barbara added.

nToy Appeal: Page 17