Ref. 74453-55OVER the last eight years Highworth churchgoer Phyllis Reid has collected thousands of gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

But now she has seen the joy these gifts bring to orphaned children for herself.

Phyllis spent five days in war-scarred Azerbaijan once part of the Soviet Union visiting orphanages and makeshift refugee camps.

A long-running conflict with neighbouring Armenia has left one in seven of the country's eight million people destitute.

Last night she told the Adver about her harrowing trip.

"I've never seen anything like it before, it really was a life changing experience," said Phyllis, who accompanied a team handing out gifts.

"The children were wildly excited when they received their present, and couldn't wait to rip the wrapping paper off.

"Many seemed to have no belongings at all."

One image which has haunted Phyllis is the sight of hundreds of families living in disused railway carriages.

"The sanitation was terrible, and these families had been there for 12 years," said the admin worker, who is a member of Highworth Community Church.

"But what struck me most was how the families were making the most it, and had made these container carriages quite cosy."

And she was stunned by their hospitality.

"We were invited in for tea and cakes, and they insisted we take them. I was so touched by their hospitality and warmth."

Operation Christmas Child also works with other charities in the region to improve conditions.

"In many of the orphanages, the conditions were pretty dreadful, especially the sanitation," she said.

"At first, you think it is a hopeless situation, but these charity workers are really working hard to make things better.

"The children liked our gifts, but I really take my hat off to these people who actually roll their sleeves up and work long term."

When Phyllis, a mother-of-two from Cricklade Road, Highworth, first launched the shoebox appeal, she collected 200 gifts. But this Christmas, the town sent nearly 2,000.

The project is now in its 15th year, and has become an annual expression of love to thousands of children throughout the world.

Tamash Lal