Madam,

Is Ceredigion the most generous place in the UK? Or maybe Gwynedd? Operation Christmas Child gives it a chance to prove so! Operation Christmas Child is the largest Children’s Christmas Project in the world and last year the UK sent an incredible 900,008 shoeboxes of gifts to children around the world.

The project is simple to take part in. Get a medium-sized shoebox and wrap it in colourful paper, attaching a label to signify it is for a boy or girl and the appropriate age group (2-4, 5-9, 10-14). Fill the shoebox with gifts, such as hygiene items and school supplies. Don’t forget the wow item - a special gift that will delight a child like a football, a doll or cuddly toy.

Make your shipping donation of just £3 per shoebox online (Operation-ChristmasChild.org.uk), and place the barcode generated inside the box to track which country your box goes to. Include a personal note or photo. Drop off your shoebox at a local collection point.

Your nearest collection points are Shoe Zone shops at 11 Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth; 19 High Street, Cardigan; 10 Bear Lanes Shopping Centre, Newtown; 4 Lammas Street, Carmarthen; 91 High Street, Porthmadog; and Roots Christian Bookshop at 50 High Street, Criccieth.

Collection points for the shoeboxes will be open until 18 November.

Yours etc,

Nick Cole, Director, Operation Christmas Child UK.

Have your say on the local issues affecting you - email [email protected] or join in the conversation on our Facebook page