Operation Christmas Child is part of Samaritan’s Purse, a non-profit, Christian organisation providing church support and emergency relief and development assistance to suffering people around the world. Each Christmas, Operation Christmas Child delivers shoeboxes packed full of gifts, to deprived children in poverty ridden regions around the world. The boxes, mostly donated by schools, churches, community groups and large co-operations are delivered to assigned sorting stations before being shipped overseas to the children.
Edwards Coaches have kindly donated warehouse space at their new headquarters in Llantrisant, free of charge for the South Wales OCC collection point spanning a period of two months. Network co-ordinators for the area, Roy and Margaret Hibbert of Llantwit Fardre will oversee the project with the help of dozens of volunteers across the region. Edwards, who have recently been awarded UK Coach Operator of the year, are in the process of transferring business interests over to the new site, as they begin plans to continue their growth throughout South Wales and beyond. The move comes following sustained growth in recent years and subsequently the company has outgrown their Llantwit Fardre home of 92 years, with a new larger site, it’s hoped the business will continue to develop and create job opportunities within the area.
On Friday 18th November, Andrew RT Davies visited the site, lending a hand to the sorting of shoeboxes. At the close of business the same day, the total number of shoeboxes stood at a huge 11,462 with contributors encouraged to keep donating boxes up to November 30th.