Lifetime office administrator Tamsin Naylor is once more aiming to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to under-privileged children around the world.

Tamsin is helping collect Christmas shoeboxes as part of the Samaritan’s Purse appeal.

Tamsin said: “My Lifetime colleagues were absolutely wonderful last year. As a company, we collected around 50 shoeboxes in total, either through people making the boxes themselves or from monetary donations.

“That was a large contribution to the Samaritan’s Purse appeal.

“And my friends and colleagues have again promised to help as much as they can.

“The Christmas shoeboxes are a wonderful gift for a child who has nothing.

“The idea is to wrap an empty shoe box in jolly paper (but leave it open) and fill it with little gifts suitable for a child overseas of a specific age group & sex (your choice).

“Arts and crafts, sticker books, toys, teddies and sweets (well in date) are good box fillers. Each box costs £2.50 to post, so a donation is a good idea and gratefully received with every shoebox. Chocolate and books aren’t generally a good idea for children overseas.

” The ‘Samaritan’s Purse’ then distribute the gifts overseas for us – bringing smiles to lots and lots of underprivileged children.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea and you can even follow your box online to see where it goes!

“Not only this, but separate items would also be greatly appreciated. If you can think of anything you’d like to give, my Mum and I will create the boxes for them or ask the Church themselves to distribute the items.

“My mum’s actually a part of the Salvation Army and for those of you who are unfamiliar with them, they are as much a charity as they are a Church. They do so much good work.”

The deadline for the Christmas shoeboxes is Friday, October 18.

If making a box is too time consuming, then small donations are welcome to help cover postage. Each box costs £2.50 to deliver abroad, so a small donation is encourage by the charity with each gift, but anything is helpful.

For further details on the Christmas shoeboxes then go to: www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk